Ransom:
A demanding collaboration with over 300 artists.
November 9th – December 1st, 2013
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 9th, 6 - 10 pm
Wayfarers set out to design an inventive project that could incorporate the range of skills and approaches an open call for entries would generate, as well as acknowledge the fact that we were going to demand money (which would be necessary to cover our administrative costs, but still made us uncomfortable). We developed the idea for Ransom - a group show that was open to absolutely anyone who paid the ten bucks for the submission fee. We spread the word about the show and 275 artists from all over the world committed to participate. Based on that number, we wrote a True Story with *275 words, and assigned one word to each of the artists. They were to make their words out of virtually any material and then send them to us so that we could arrange them on the walls of the gallery to spell out the True Story in the style of a giant, three-dimensional ransom note.
*A real life fact changed in the True Story, so we added a footnote, and recruited more word-makers. Then another fact changed (real life is slippery), and we recruited more word-makers for that footnote. The current word count for Ransom is 329 and holding. The story, as of this writing, is still true...
A demanding collaboration with over 300 artists.
November 9th – December 1st, 2013
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 9th, 6 - 10 pm
Wayfarers set out to design an inventive project that could incorporate the range of skills and approaches an open call for entries would generate, as well as acknowledge the fact that we were going to demand money (which would be necessary to cover our administrative costs, but still made us uncomfortable). We developed the idea for Ransom - a group show that was open to absolutely anyone who paid the ten bucks for the submission fee. We spread the word about the show and 275 artists from all over the world committed to participate. Based on that number, we wrote a True Story with *275 words, and assigned one word to each of the artists. They were to make their words out of virtually any material and then send them to us so that we could arrange them on the walls of the gallery to spell out the True Story in the style of a giant, three-dimensional ransom note.
*A real life fact changed in the True Story, so we added a footnote, and recruited more word-makers. Then another fact changed (real life is slippery), and we recruited more word-makers for that footnote. The current word count for Ransom is 329 and holding. The story, as of this writing, is still true...
November 9 - December 8, 2013. Ransom: A Demanding Collaboration With More Than 300 Artists
UPDATE FEB 1, 2014.
To all our participating Ransom artists: We've mailed out all submissions that had proper postage and shipping materials. If you included proper postage and materials and haven't yet received yours, drop us a line right away. If you didn't include those things, and haven't talked to us but are still hoping to receive yours back, also let us know ASAP. We'll be clearing the Ransom storage shelf February 28th and giving all the remaining works to anyone who promises them a good home.
Thanks so much for working with us! xo
To all our participating Ransom artists: We've mailed out all submissions that had proper postage and shipping materials. If you included proper postage and materials and haven't yet received yours, drop us a line right away. If you didn't include those things, and haven't talked to us but are still hoping to receive yours back, also let us know ASAP. We'll be clearing the Ransom storage shelf February 28th and giving all the remaining works to anyone who promises them a good home.
Thanks so much for working with us! xo
