02/21 - 04/03/2024
open Source is an adaptive model–a series of collapsible sculptures and curated resources that reference, critique, and expand on theories surrounding the minimalist sculptures of Carl Andre and Donald Judd, as well as the architecture of NYC public housing. It transforms these cultural ideologies and frameworks into relational object support prototypes that serve as a record activated by various communities. The model fosters collaborative connections and the exchange and transmission of knowledge outside traditional institutions, creating a commons where people can gather, learn, discuss, and respond to contemporary issues. The project originated as a direct response to censorship, local and national budget cuts to education, library closures, and book bans. As education and learning institutions continue to be defunded and vital systems and structures collapse around us, how might we leverage this collapse to reclaim and repurpose these old structures and forms, rebuilding in ways that benefit us and those most impacted?
The project features collapsible wooden sculptures that can be reassembled in any environment, encouraging people to share and respond to various practices and resources by carving and imprinting directly onto the forms. It functions as a living archive and new architecture (a cite and site) for social spaces of learning, living, and processing together. For this work-in-progress, I gathered learning resources from my personal library, local NYC archives, the Public Library, and through collaborations with artist/activist friends. During this project, NYC Mayor Adams closed all libraries on Sundays. In response, I organized a program called open Source Sundays, where I curated materials and initiated conversations around important themes like “Gentrification, Urban Development, and Displacement,” “Early Knowledge Holders (from Daycare to Pre-K),” and “Indigenous Ecologies.” The installation was open to visitors on Sundays from 1 to 5 pm, during previously held library open hours.
Using healing methods, I also made a transgressive flower essence as an energetic offering for the site and visitors, installed warm yellow lights in the space, and played ambient frequencies tuned to 528Hz to help slow down the body and mind from a reactive to a responsive state when engaging with the materials.