Multimedia Collection
Real Estate Show
VHS
80 minutes
2000
NX650 .P6 R43x 2000
The Real Estate Show started the '80s with a break. The lower East Side community, artists and art watchers were surprised by the positive action of artists occupying the building at 125 Delancey Street for a display of art, architecture, and urban planning. The possibility for development despite repressive structures became apparent. The old conception of the creative artist realizing his/her aim of freedom through contemplation of art pieces was questioned.
Radical political views, as well as more moderate attitudes have been presented in the Real Estate Show, however everybody has been willing to dialogue. The concern is social problems: to participate in the struggle for a better society.
Such a concept gives art the social strength believed lost since the rising ambitious bourgeoisie made itself the sponsor for artists. Culture does not have to be a useless parasite of people's wealth - it has something to offer which goes further than the intellectual play.
This project represents an open process of permanent change. A strong idea has many faces. The fact that a bureaucracy without fantasy stopped the show only improved its flexibility to elude useless confrontations, to elaborate new strategies. The Real Estate Show continues ...
The artists were experiencing firsthand an involuntary pasttime neighborhood folk have been long familiar with: being cast out onto the street by indifferent interests, whether from private or public sectors. "We're nomads," says video artist, Mitch Corber. "We've got nowhere to go. We deserve a place. We spotted it. No one was there."
Distributed by Thin Air Spoken Word.
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