New Orleans, public art, institutional critique, education, civil rights, social justice, human rights, higher education, social practice, research based art, digital media, BUREAU of CHANGE, Margot Herster, documentary, New Orleans, collaborative media, social media, art, activism, photography, interactive, social media, Margot Herster, Margot Hester, Margaret, Herster, Hester, education not guaranteed, Louisiana
BUREAU of CHANGE brought our Micro Internet Yami Ichi, in a black cloud-inspired interface, to the Internet Yami-ichi NY 2 on November 6, 2016 at the Knockdown Center in Queens, New York.
Our goal was to spread light to the people on the beautiful dangers of the internet. BUREAU analytics show that that we reached that goal. We broke the internet, ate the misfortunes, cut the money, blocked the popups and didn’t give a f–k.
“My fear was that I would get lost, and that no one would ever hear from me again.”—InfraRedd, cloud operator and network security, BUREAU of CHANGE
“The energy was busy, the people were colorful, and the projects were cutting edge.”—Steven, cloud interface maker, BUREAU of CHANGE
It wasn’t all beats and bruises though, as we also sold scented retweet hearts. And after all, the people really needed them; we sold out.
At the BUREAU of CHANGE cloud interface, there was a lighthearted yet comical feel about it all. It was like window shopping, and Yami-ichi shoppers were scared but those who engaged with our black cloud market discovered so much more than tangible products.
One thing we sold was a wish. Participants inserted a dollar into the cloud to get amazing things. Gloved hands reached out of the cloud then pixelated the USD with shredder scissors and returned it to it’s owner. Some people were concerned about the legality of destroying the dollar. We anticipated this, so we had attorney services on hand to ease consumer concerns. Compared to the sadistic commercialism we engage in everyday on the internet, destroying the dollar seemed innocuous.
Logan Blake created a T-shirt that gave you a message to give a f–k. We’ve all been there, working on something important and there it goes, press “OK” to continue. What if you don’t want to say okay? What if you just want to say f–k? We thought this was a lighthearted way to show our dismay towards the “OK” button.
BUREAU of CHANGE was invited to show a selection of our work at NOLATech Weeks’ 4th Silicon Bayou Startup Showcase on October 14, 2016.
BUREAU of CHANGE showcased video and animation projects, as well as some of research and technology-based works from our flatfiles. We engaged in a lot of conversations about community problems and solutions related to our most recent video, Amazing Grace featuring President Barack Obama. Amazing Grace is a rap gospel that memorializes black lives lost to killings motivated by racism and addresses the role of social media in the Black Lives Matter movement.
We also exchanged ideas about economic stimulus disappointments and prospects of the tech industry in Louisiana related to our 2013 animated documentary, *EDUCATION NOT GUARANTEED. The video, created by Louisiana State University faculty, students and alums details student cost of financial and curricular fraud in higher education, in particular unfulfilled promises of the digital media program within the context of Governor Jindal’s economic and workforce development initiatives and the national education crisis.
Conceived as a science fair-style networking event, the showcase was a great way to share what the BUREAU of CHANGE has been working on and make connections with other New Orleans tech organizations. The other startups in the showcase were Concierge Solutions, Limited Times, Locally, PatentDive, Shiftgig, Vaunt 3D. We had the privilege of meeting a few of the other participating startups Vaunt 3D and PatentDive. Vaunt 3D is a 3D scanning and print house located in New Orleans. They provide high quality photo-real 3D renderings for architects, investors, and interior designers. PatentDive builds software to help builders protect their products. The company’s products help inventors and attorneys create better patent applications.
We would like to give a huge thank you to everyone who attended the event, as well as NOLATech Week and The Landing Zone for hosting the 4th Silicon Bayou Startup Showcase.
About NOLATech Week
NOLATech Week is a weeklong, citywide, unconference, bringing together art, food, music, urban development, environmental and education communities. All events are intended to educate, engage, facilitate collaboration, or grow awareness for all businesses, organizations, and members of our community.
About BUREAU of CHANGE
BUREAU of CHANGE is an education-centric lab for real art practice in New Orleans. We create, curate and exhibit socially and politically engaged work. Our process commissions artists and non-artists to collaborate on creative works aimed at inciting institutional change while studying social technology, digital media theory, interdisciplinary research and artistic production. We present our work at art institutions and community-accessible physical and digital spaces, as well as US|IS, our public art space at Gravier & Magazine Streets in downtown New Orleans
“I have just endured one of the largest trolling attacks in history. And I have just been blessed with the most astonishing human responses to that attack.” – Ellen Pao
BUREAU of CHANGE presented an original interactive installation in conjuncton with Southern Rep’s BOUDIN: The New Orleans Music Project, which ran from April 18–May 17 at the Ashé Power House Theater. For the commission, BUREAU founder and teaching artist Margot Herster directed FIELD TELEPHONE: THE OPENING ACT with talented young artists: Steven Pedeaux, digital cultures writer, researcher, producer, BFA LSU Digital Art; Kareem Henry, pastor, songwriter, computer science student at ITT; and K.G., rap musician, drafting and design student at ITT
Installation View, BUREAU of CHANGE: Taking Care of Trees, 2012 Commissioned by Duke University Center for Advanced Hindsight for the exhibition Restraining Order: The Art of Self-Control, December 14th, 2012 – February 22nd, 2013
Duke University’s Center for Advanced Hindsight acquired work from BUREAU of CHANGE’s Taking Care of Trees project for it’s collection. Dan Ariely, behavioral economist, founder of the Center and also a popular TED talker and NYT best-selling author, explains the social implications BUREAU’s work:
“In this project, the artists challenge the buyers of the art with a self-control exercise. With a purchase, the buyers not only receive a piece of beautiful art, but they get to contribute to the earth by raising a tree. But with this comes accountability, as the artists require ongoing proof that the tree is alive and well. But, how long will the warm glow last? Will the exchange be as rewarding after four or five years? Long after the art has been lost or broken, the buyer may feel less enthusiastic about caring for their seedling as the initial joy of goodwill fades and the responsibility sets in.”
About the Center for Advanced Hindsight: The central goal of the Center for Advanced Hindsight is to develop great insights (in hindsight) about an extensive and diverse set of research projects. As a non-discriminating institution, its work examines published as well as unpublished work, and the work of researchers of all ranks. Of course, this involvement is restricted to work conducted by unaffiliated researchers, as this kind of intimate scientific inquiry by its members would be too dangerous. Needless to say, all aforementioned work is done retrospectively. One might even go as far as saying “in hindsight.” The sole responsibility of members is to critique the work of others and comment on the obvious intuitiveness and predictability of the results. In fact, there is no “ground-breaking” research that comes as a surprise to the brilliant minds of the Center. The initiation process to become an official member of the center requires an oath of commitment to apathy and absurdity.
