This method of work is often characterized by attempting to engage the unsuspecting viewer in his or her everyday life, by interrupting, intervening or even disrupting their daily life in some way. Most people have patterns, habits that they follow each day. You are looking for a way to intersect with that pattern. You are looking to create something that someone takes notice of, even for just a moment, so that they might diverge from that pattern for just a moment.
This project will be an actualized public intervention in which you will communicate with a public audience. It may be a miniscule or slight gesture that is only seem by the most observant passers-by. It may be an overt gesture, where you acrually engage the viewer in conversation.
ENTRANCE – ways to enter into this project:
- ISSUE BASED – Is there a specific issue that you feel strongly about and would like to act on, or comment on in some way? That issue may be a public or social issue – global, national, regional or local. Examples: Global warming, Genocide in Darfur, Health Care in the US, Crime rate in Philadelphia. OR, your issue can be more personal in nature. Examples: cost of education, family, relationships, etc. Any issue is valid as a subject– from personal to far reaching – from political to social and beyond.
- SITE BASED – Is there a particular site or place that interests you, yet you know little about it? It is peculiar, odd or particular in terms of its physical presence in the city? Does the site have a hidden history that you are interested in exposing? Example: a single house on a block with all businesses, a small sliver between 2 buildings. Sites might be in multiples, scattered about the city, but relational in some way. {to locate a site, you may have to traverse the city very slowly, pay very close attention, and question every site, every space}
MANIFESTATION – ways In which your project might manifest itself:
Distribution / multiples
Installation / Deposit
Action / Event / Happening / Performance
PRESENTATION – ways in which we will view your project
I will work with you on an individual basis to decide how to present your project. Ideally, you will take us to the site(s) for critique, or you may provide documentation in the form of photographs, website, video or audio.
What is DOCUMENTATION?
Documentation comes in many forms. If we can not go to the site for critique, you will have to find a way to document the work to share it with the class. Here are some basic guidelines for photos, video or audio:
- Document heavily – do more than you think you will need so you have a choice when putting together a presentation.
- Show the site before you do the project, during the project (perhaps with viewer reactions), and after the project.
- Be thorough and professional with your presentation – you may do a slide show, a Powerpoint Presentation, website, video or audio. Either way—documentation is inherently never as good as the actual experience of the work in real life – so give us as much as you can.
- Stay ahead of yourself – don’t wait till the last minute. If the project fails in some way, I expect you to try it again till you get it where you are happy with it.
RULES:
- Your project must be sited in Philadelphia
- It must be temporary, minimally invasive and it can not, in any way, be destructive to public or private property.
- If you are engaging with your audience by conversation, photographs , video or audio– ask permission! Example: “Hi, my name is Meredith Warner. I am a student and Moore College of art and I am doing a project. Can I ask you a few questions? Can I record you? Can I take your picture?”
- If you are attaching something to any part of the environment – try to get permission to do so.
- No Littering, No graffiti, No stickering allowed!
- Materials are TOTALLY OPEN!
This is public art 
