ESP Project
Eastern State Penitentiary
Philadelphia, PA 
April 3rd, 2010

It is a unique opportunity to make work for a space that so heavily breathes on its own. The Eastern State Penitentiary held prisoners for over 140 years and emanates possibilities for conceptual stimulation. The penitentiary's embryonic interior offers a heightened visceral experience, which I intended 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 lined Cellblock Ten at the Eastern State Penitentiary. All of the art pieces were to be given away to the public on this day. In form, the urns echo the interior space of the prison cells. All the pieces were gilded with 23-karat gold leaf on the backside, as well as an individual numbering system on the front from 1 through 980. This represented the number of individual cells in the penitentiary. Participants were escorted through the cellblock with an ESP guide. Each participant then selected an urn whereby the guide escorted him/her outside to release the piece to its recipient. Within this audience-interactive art performance, I hoped to create a transformative experience for both the participant and the space in which the event occurred.

Since the Eastern State Penitentiary held prisoners who took the lives and possessions of others, I wanted to reverse this history and destructive energy through the act of giving.

                   

		"Rocky Lewycky is an interesting artist because he deals with the controversial issues of VALUE in our society, not only in commentary— as conveyed through the production of his art pieces; but also through his actual ART PRACTICE, that is, the practice of giving away the production. Therefore, Lewycky brings into question the worth of MAKING/CREATING/PRODUCING an artwork, as well as that artwork’s market value. This interchange and exchange becomes performance, heightened by the promise of a free art object that is the catalyst for the performance. This performed ‘act of giving’ and the dissemination of these ceramic objects transcend all conventions as they democratize art and bring to the forefront the artificiality of perceived value. I think Lewycky’s proposal for the Eastern State Penitentiary Project will prove to be an inspired work that will challenge society’s definition of artistic value and expose the commoditization operating within the art field.” Jo Lauria Ceramic Interactions, 2010 Jo Lauria Chief curator of the exhibition CRAFT IN AMERICA: Expanding Traditions Former decorative arts curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)