art at work: sanitation & social practice
gabriella d’addario, eden chinn
2024
An accompanying zine, functioning as an exhibition catalog, attempts to give form to the relational dimension of the residencies. Alongside works of art, we see art at work: process photos depict artists clad in neon safety gear as they confront the otherworldly landscapes of the transfer station, scavenging for materials and seeking inspiration. Archival documents tell the origin stories of each residency, which often begin with the spark of an idea between a few bold individuals, but eventually require the cooperation of huge teams engaged in dangerous, time-sensitive and complex labor. It is remarkable that these programs exist at all, and yet today they are among the oldest incubators of civic practice art in America.