Free Store
Participatory Event / Installation
The Free Store is based on it's original conception from the 1960's by the San Francisco improv
theather/activist group The Diggers (1966-68).
I wanted to sample this idea of the free store for it's ability to both provide to the public and as a means to
represent dematerialization of an event.
The process of the store's use is documented until the entire contents of the store have been taken from the
space. At which point simple pined up photographs of it's documentation will be placed around the
space.Members of the Human Observation Society will work at the store until ether the end of the exhibition
or everything in the store has been taken away. The store will be constantly reorganized in order to keep a
welcoming visual presentation.
This project consists of two stages prior to the exhibition.
1. The Collection Process - Collection does not end until 2 weeks prior to the opening of the exhibition and
requires at least 3 months of collecting.
An ad campaign calling for donations and information on the project.
This includes using online as well as local bulletin boards.
In the ad campaign, participants are informed of a drop off center and a pick up service. Both of which will be
created by the Human Observation Society.
2. The Opening - This is done much like an event where flyers are distributed and posters are placed around
different areas in the city. The posters and flyers are designed for every language spoken in the city the exhibi-
tion.
Example of Flyer
click on image to enlarge