The UnConvention at Peavey Plaza
The UnConvention is a non-partisan collective of citizens who have come together to create a forum in which to promote the democratic and free exchange of ideas on important issues. It exists as a counterpoint to the highly scripted and predetermined nature of the contemporary presidential nomination process and convention.
The UnConvention at Peavey Plaza
From 6 pm to 9 pm, Saturday, August 31, 9 am to midnight, Monday, September 1 and Tuesday, September 2, The UnConvention presented the following projects in Peavey Plaza in the heart of downtown Minneapolis on a more or less continuous basis for 3 days of performances and participatory culture.
1000 Print Summer
ArtOrg’s The 1000 Print Summer is a project that travels to a dozen different venues making art prints with a steamroller. So far this summer, the project has made 704 prints at such locations such as Northfield, Owatonna, Red Wing, Rochester, and The Walker Art Center. Join both kids and adults at Peavey Plaza as the patterns change from birds and bugs to elephants and donkeys for The UnConvention. It is likely that the magical 1000 print total mark will be passed sometime during this weekend!
Backbone, Values, Hairstyle
This installation consists of a found aluminum voting booth with “circuit-bent” electronic keyboard hardware embedded inside. The participant pushes switches, activating irregular sounds. This draws on the parallel absurdity between motives in voting decisions and the capricious nature of the circuit-bent device. This piece will be installed at the intersection of 11th street and Nicolette Ave, in Peavy Plaza, from August 31 through September 2.
Border Cruiser Video Sculpture
A video installation made from a former police car and transformed into an electrically powered vehicle, this ArtCar will be parked outside and around various neighborhoods, equipped with interior video projections which call attention to the personal voices of “undocumented†immigrants.
F-30 Pedal Cloud
For Forecast Public Art’s 30th Anniversary celebration throughout the Twin Cities the artists of Black Bean Associates designed and built a unique, sculptural, human-powered vehicle.
Free Speech Surrogate
The Free Speech Surrogate offers participants the chance to say what’s on their mind without the risk of reprisal. Liberty personified will read public announcements supplied by passers by and Internet submissions. Announcements happen twice daily on September 1st and 2nd at 12 noon and 5pm. Look for the woman in the flowing Greek robes and red Phrygian cap.
I Approve This Message
I Approve This Message invites people to create a video in response to questions surrounding the scripted nature of presidential nominations and democracy in general. Entries will be screened nightly as part of UnConvention TV.
IF/THEN: Honor Will Never Be Regained
A set of two leaflets designed for automatic, mechanical distribution utilizing the Labor Camp Message Force Multiplier Instruments.
Kulture Klub Art Shanties
Art Shanty Projects and Kulture Klub Collaborative will install a shanty base-camp for various public arts activities. These activities will respond to the unconvention themes of non-partisan intersection of participatory media and participatory democracy by inviting artists and youth experiencing homelessness to engage the public in workshops and presentations including; free workshops where the public creates personalized stenciled lawn signs and flags, as well as letter pressed playbills, guerrilla cinema projections of videos created by homeless teens, Auto ethnographic guided tours led by artist and youth.
Liberty Parade
What does liberty look like? The fine Citizens of Minneapolis and St. Paul are hard at work creating a large scale parade through the heart of Minneapolis on August 31st, 2008. The Libery Parade is a celebration about what liberty means to YOU. Join us after the parade at Loring Park for music, speakers and surprises that will last into the evening. Liberty Parade passes by the Peavey Plaza reviewing stand around 2:00 pm.
Make an Effort
Regardless of your political leaning, everyone in the Metro area should open their arms (or at least be Minnesota-nice) to our guests during the Republican National Convention. An advertising campaign created by Twin Cities advertising agency, Campbell Mithun, encourages you to find your own way to graciously welcome our many visitors–as well as participate in the many non-partisan activities going on in town during the RNC. Check out the campaign and pass it along!
Minneapolis Art on Wheels
Inspired by Graffiti Research Labs, the principal tool of the Minneapolis Art on Wheels project is three Mobile Broadcast Units (MBUs), bicycles combing a video projector, generator, and computer. These mobile media devices allow the Minneapolis Art on Wheels project to leverage mobility, scale and real-time interactive audio-visual software for the purpose of engaging broad audience in creative interaction with mobile media.
My Yard Our Message
This project will solicit political sign designs related to the theme of participatory democracy from artists throughout the world and select the top designs through an online voting process. The selected designs will then be made available via the project Web site to be ordered as a full size political yard sign or downloaded as print it yourself PDF document.
One-on-One Film Festival
One-on-One Film Festival is an action that creates a space for social/political dialogue between local filmmakers and viewers of their films.
Revolutionary Table
In collaboration with the Chicago, Illinois, based collaborative Alimentary Tropism, Red76 will offer up some delicious barbecue and pose a seemingly simple statement for the meals guests to complete, “Because of the war in Iraq….”
Spark24
A non-stop marathon of free entertainment called spark24 will kick off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, 2008 and will continue until 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 31 (the days just preceding the start of the Republican National Convention).
UnConvention TV
UnConvention TV is a series of hour-long broadcasts compiling a variety of projects about art, politics, and being American. It’s the complicated crossroads where art, politics, journalism and public opinion get together a dance a little cha-cha, a conduit to start talking about the issues, our political process, and perhaps the general absurdity of the whole thing.
Urban Echo
Urban Echo is an interactive video projection that aims to collect and creatively represent the thoughts and imaginings of city-dwellers.
Walk In Their Shoes
CODEPINK hopes Walk In Their Shoes will illustrate to politicians and Americans the immense devastation of this war, the tragedy of human loss and help convince them to vote against any extended action in the war and to avoid future wars through diplomacy. The nonprofit group has presented this memorial to more than 20 cities around the country. Thousands of people, including hundreds of delegates, will see the display at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
UnConvention performances at Peavey Plaza
Performances at Peavey Plaza during the UnConvention included:
- Beatrix*JAR
- Jao
- Ripple Effect
- Spark 24
Presented by Northern Lights.mn
The UnConvention at Peavey Plaza is presented by Northern Lights.mn and produced by J. Allen Anthony.
Links
The UnConvention
The UnConvention in The New York Times
The UnConvention media coverage
The UnConvention flickr