Upcoming Event: Democracy in America: The National Campaign

Democracy in America: The National Campaign at the Convergence Center
September 21 to 27, Open Daily 12-10pm
Opening Reception: September 21, 2-10pm
Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Avenue between 66th and 67th Streets
Presented by Creative Time in association with Park Avenue Armory


Tomorrow marks the opening of Creative Time’s Convergence Center, which the press release describes as “a major exhibition, participatory project space, and meeting hall,” mounted at the Park Avenue Armory. The Convergence Center is the culmination of the yearlong traveling project Democracy in America: The National Campaign, whose title is certainly inspired by Alexis de Tocqueville's two volume mid-19th century meditation on U.S. politics and society of the same/similar title, depending on the translation. Throughout the coming week, artists, professors and politicians will stage speeches and performances at the Armory. Not to be missed are Pia Lindman’s performances (12-3pm Friday and 3-6pm Saturday) and a speech by Yes Men (9pm Saturday).

Along side works by 40 artists, original historic documents fundamental to American democracy will be exhibited in the floors of the grandiose building, including the Declaration of Independence, The Emancipation Proclamation, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Art critic Peter Schjeldahl writes, “most political art is poor art and worse politics. Art is both too sensitive and too ponderous for the necessary roughness and speed of civic conflict.” (Dead-End Kids: Political Art, The New Yorker, December 11, 2000). It will be interesting to see how Schjeldahl’s statement (which, despite my absolute adoration of his writing and views on art, I wholly disagree with) holds up to the events of the coming week. We are, after all, living in a time that begs artists to utilize the profound communicative potentials of art to speak about our current political and social situations and how these must and can change.


Click here for a press release
Click here for a schedule of events