Rocky Lewycky

ESP Project Eastern State Penitentiary Performance: April 3. 2010 Philadelphia, PA
return to home page -click here For updates on the project you can check my ESP blog at http://espphiladelphia.blogspot.com/ It is a unique opportunity to make work for a space that is so heavily breathing on it’s own. The history of Eastern State Penitentiary emanates possibilities for conceptual stimulation and its embryonic interior offers a heightened visceral experience that I intend to transmit through my performance and installation. When social hierarchies surrender to a deconstructed commodity we capture a glimpse into a more utopian society. On April 3rd, 2010 nine hundred and eighty (980) urns will line Cellblock Ten at the Eastern State Penitentiary. All of the art pieces will be given away to the public on this day. In form, the urns eco the interior space of the prison cells. All the pieces have 23-karat gold leaf gilded on the backside as well as an individual numbering system on the front from 1 through 980, representing the number of individual cells in the penitentiary. Participants will be escorted through the cellblock with an ESP guide. When the participant has selected their piece, his or her guide will escort them outside and release the urn to the participant. Within this audience interactive art performance I hope to create a transformative experience for both the participant and for the space in which the event occurs. This penitentiary held prisoners for over 130 years who took the lives and possessions of others. I want to reverse this history and energy through the act of giving. Free Art: In 2004 I performed Free Art. In this performance-exhibition at the Columbia Museum of Art in South Carolina I proceeded to give away 444 hand-made clay vessels. Each participant had 30 seconds to choose one of three pieces that were displayed on their respective pedestals. After each piece was selected, a new vessel was placed on the pedestal. My goal with this project was to challenge our definition of gift giving and commodities. During the performance I did not foresee or account for the incredible gathering of people and the breakdown of social hierarchies corresponding to the deconstructed commodity I created. I believe some of the dynamic social layers adhering to the Free Art project will resonate and parallel with the Eastern State Penitentiary Project.

ESP Project
Eastern State Penitentiary
Performance: April 3. 2010
Philadelphia, PA

For updates on the project you can check my ESP blog at http://espphiladelphia.blogspot.com/

It is a unique opportunity to make work for a space that is so heavily breathing on it’s own. The history of Eastern State Penitentiary emanates possibilities for conceptual stimulation and its embryonic interior offers a heightened visceral experience that I intend to transmit through my performance and installation.

When social hierarchies surrender to a deconstructed commodity we capture a glimpse into a more utopian society. On April 3rd, 2010 nine hundred and eighty (980) urns will line Cellblock Ten at the Eastern State Penitentiary. All of the art pieces will be given away to the public on this day. In form, the urns eco the interior space of the prison cells. All the pieces have 23-karat gold leaf gilded on the backside as well as an individual numbering system on the front from 1 through 980, representing the number of individual cells in the penitentiary. Participants will be escorted through the cellblock with an ESP guide. When the participant has selected their piece, his or her guide will escort them outside and release the urn to the participant. Within this audience interactive art performance I hope to create a transformative experience for both the participant and for the space in which the event occurs.

This penitentiary held prisoners for over 130 years who took the lives and possessions of others. I want to reverse this history and energy through the act of giving.

Free Art:
In 2004 I performed Free Art. In this performance-exhibition at the Columbia Museum of Art in South Carolina I proceeded to give away 444 hand-made clay vessels. Each participant had 30 seconds to choose one of three pieces that were displayed on their respective pedestals. After each piece was selected, a new vessel was placed on the pedestal. My goal with this project was to challenge our definition of gift giving and commodities. During the performance I did not foresee or account for the incredible gathering of people and the breakdown of social hierarchies corresponding to the deconstructed commodity I created. I believe some of the dynamic social layers adhering to the Free Art project will resonate and parallel with the Eastern State Penitentiary Project.