Melissa Brown and I destroyed each others artwork every other day, during the entire month of June, outside Espeis Gallery in Williamsburg Brooklyn New York. The idea was to not work constructively, giving the public an event instead of a mural.
We also hoped for vandalism, since it would give us an extra step in our documented progression. But to keep the vandalism authentic, we couldn’t tell people they’re free, to do what they want.
In the final days Melissa antagonized some kids and they rearranged our blue painters tape after she’d left. And at other moments during the project, there were stickers and tags appearing in empty areas & near the edges. But generally we were left alone, or “gone over” very little and then only politely, which surprised us.
I think, as a game or framework, this has potential to be tried elsewhere. Its interesting to see the competition between artists. Fun to see art destroyed. And as a means to bait/discover what latent vandalism-potential exists indifferent areas & times.
Melissa and I documented the wall with video from fixed positions…
Espeis “June” from MOMO on Vimeo.
Espeis liked the project so much they decided to make a show, with the wall panels brought inside, and a print commemorating the event. The print looked like this. It was created the same as the wall – by passing a file back and forth.
And the show looked like this. Thanks to Zoe and David, Melissa, and New York.
