I personally like Michael M interpretation of advancing, escaping and repairing society because he is making a bold statement. Michael M set up a parasite shelter that was over 3.5 feet, which was the limit enforced by the Giuliani administration. Its a quiet statement and it is also a public intervention because it is out in public for everyone to see and also very illegal. It also sends a messager and absolutely sends its point across.
Michael Rackowitz's paraSITE is questioning what rights the city's homeless have to inhabit the public spaces, and how much power we all have (or don't have) to control the essential need of shelter. The paraSITE tent that was under 3.5 feet was intended to sidestep a Giuliani-era law that said anything over that measurement would be considered and tent and illegal.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear a little bit more of a response to the piece, rather than just a description. These responses are about you finding a way to relate the art to your own life, your own experience, not just feeding back a description. Can you imagine all the city's homeless living like this? Would it piss you off? Would you want to try one out? What do you think about that fact that they made a home for this guy for $5 compared to the fact that we're all getting reamed by rent in this city?
(B+)
P.S. We have to find a way to get those photos viewable online. Any ideas? If you cant find a way, please email them to me...