State Greetings Exhibit and Events At Modern Fuel
September 11th, 2007
STATE GREETINGS
22 August – 29 September 2007
Ceremony and Reception: 15 September 2007
Robert Jelinek (Vienna, Austria), State of Sabotage (SoS)
Mark Prier (Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador), NOMADSLAND
Gjen Snider (Kingston, Ontario), Guest Curator
“Art as state is a direct form of independent state art.â€
- Robert Jelinek, SoS
“Nomadsland is an Independent State of Mind, existing as all states do: within the imagination.â€
- Mark Prier, Nomadsland
The work of both Prier and Jelinek define ‘the state’ as a subversive idea with unique value to assess the effects of ideology on modern society. STATE GREETINGS takes a platform to observe the social, cultural, and political phenomenon of Micronations: small entities that resemble, behave as, and sometimes parody independent nations or states. Impervious to their lack of recognition by world governments or major international organisations, micronational projects present creative, original and often favorable opportunities for consideration of alternative political policy and the conditions and possibilities of unconventional agency. In this exhibition, two micronations - State of Sabotage and Nomadsland, are explored as culturally viable and symbolic of grassroots political ideals and artistic self-determination, which also demonstrate clear relationships to contemporary global conditions.
Ceremony and Reception: 15 September 2007
ORDER OF EVENTS
10am – 12:30pm Mark Prier opens Nomadsland Official Passport Office: Confederation Basin (Ontario Street), downtown Kingston. All visitors welcome! Become a citizen of NOMADSLAND with the assistance of delegate ‘Alex’ in the official consulate tent on Friday, Sept 14th, from 10 – 12:30, and 3 – 5:30pm.
12:30pm – 2:00pm Reception, curatorial talk and Q&A with artists: Modern Fuel Embassy. Refreshments served, including the Soup of Sabotage - an ancillary project on social metaphor by artist Anabelle Hulaut (Coutances, France), as created by members of Kingston’s Sleepless Goat Cafe Workers Co-op. Visitors also have the opportunity to become citizens of the State of Sabotage and NOMADSLAND, complete with official passports.
2:00pm Boarding the Wolfe Island Ferry as foot passengers. The terminal is 200 yards from Modern Fuel, at the base of Queen St. All are welcome. 20 minute ferry trip, followed by a 5 minute trip by bus to the site of the ceremony. The ferry departs hourly, on the hour.
2:30pm – 3:30pm Non-President of SoS, Robert Jelinek, will lead new state citizens in the ceremonial SoS STONING, to mark the official dedication and state demarcation of the first Canadian SoS territory. All are welcome to participate or witness the events transpire on a small plot of land on scenic Carpenter Point Road (North shore of Wolfe Island), dedicated by Kingston artist and educator, Rebecca Soudant, to the State of Sabotage.
3:30pm Travel back to the island ferry terminal to board the Wolfe Island Ferry as foot passengers. Expected arrival in Kingston 4:00pm. The ferry departs hourly from Wolfe Island, on the half-hour.
More information at Modern Fuel.
Events
