Dedicated to critical cultural production at the intersection of art and activism.

The Influencers, a three day think-tank on art, guerrilla communication, and radical entertainment, convenes today in Barcelona.  The event brings together the Yes Men, Critical Art Ensemble, Black Label Bike Club, and several others strategically imagining our post-capitalist future, whose “dangerous and risky narratives,” as described by the organizers, “force [the] physical, aesthetical (sic.), legal, and political boundaries of our society, and challenge [our] collective imagination to desire the unthinkable.”

For more on the participating artists, see the Influencers’ program of activities.  The festival’s archive is not to be missed.

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Update: The Space Hijackers are going to sue the cops over their arrest at the G20.

There’s reason to celebrate this morning, and we join Leah Borromeo in raising a toast to the Space Hijackers’ strength and determination through the several month ordeal of defeating the charges brought against them for their action at the G20.

Leah has posted an excerpt of the letter the Hijackers received from their lawyers on her site, and the official reasons – insufficient evidence – were not dissimilar to those in the dismissal of a similarly high-profile case brought against Steve Kurtz of Critical Art Ensemble.

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Take a class every night with a range of specialized teachers in exchange for basic items and services. Secure a spot in a Trade School class by meeting one of the teacher’s barter needs.
By Day: A Shop
Drop in to barter with artists, designers, and craftspeople on a range of products and services. Peruse the trading board for things you want, and leave a contact card for things you have to offer. Skilled staff will help you make connections.
By Night: A School
Take a class with a range of specialized teachers in exchange for basic items and services. Secure a spot in a Trade School class by meeting one of the teacher’s barter needs. For example, grant writer Caroline Woolard is looking for local produce from the farmers market. Agree to bring her a dozen crisp apples, and you’re in!
By Jove: A Great Idea
Trade School was conceived by OurGoods.org to encourage artists and designers to trade with one another. Grand Opening brings this concept to everyone with its convenient storefront location, media attention, and easy to use interactive website. Together they do away with the dollar and get the things people need to the people that want them without the restrictions of currency. Let the exchange begin!
Visit Trade School at 139 Norfolk in the Lower East Side of New York City from January 25th to March 1st. Register HERE.

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JOAAP #7 (previously) is now available in print and digital formats.

Groundswell readers will be familiar with the publication, and the incredible list of authors included in this edition, including InCUBATE, Salem Collo-Julin, Amy Franceschini, Mark Tribe, and more.

The issue reflects on current responses to economic and environmental conditions – the crises and situations we find ourselves addressing, and the fragments of thoughts that sometimes cohere into resistance and sometimes don’t.

Their stirring introduction summarizes this fluid and experimental approach:

We don’t need new territorializations that allow for the quick and easy commodification and  obfuscation of these practices into the art world; rather a discourse that equally connects to historical dialogues, and already existing discussions around the social & political context of art, cultural and social movements.

We say: Go practice.

Repetition creates conditions for the change of political subjectivity.

Go Practice!

JOAAP has published some articles exclusively online, which will make for good reading between experiments.  Grab the print edition here.

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Tomorrow night, sprout will offer an exploration of light as a means of political, artistic, and cultural expression.  Join us for a Food Not Bombs dinner at 7:30PM, performances begin at 8. The address is 339R Summer St., Somerville MA, and a description of the performances follows:

Nell Breyer is an artist who combines projections and choreography.  She will demonstrate an interactive projection program.

John Hulsey and Ilaria Minio Paluello worked to install a series of shadow projections in foreclosed houses throughout Roxbury and Jamaica Plains.  They will be discussing and sharing the role of light in addressing the complicated situation around the mortgage crisis.

The Aaatack is a local ambient/electronic/techno band who will performing a set of original songs.

John Bell and Shaunalynn Duffy will present a series of toy theater tableaux looking at the social history of light accompanied by Mike Romanyshyn on clarinet.

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