Monday, November 03, 2003

Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies A project by Oliver Ressler http://www.ressler.at Galerija Skuc, Ljubljana (SI) 30 October – 29 November 2003 http://www.galerija.skuc-drustvo.si After the loss of a counter model for capitalism – which socialism, in its real, existing form presented until its collapse – alternative concepts for economic and social development face difficulties at the beginning of the twenty-first century. In the industrial nations “alternatives,” are, namely, only broadly discussed when they do not question the existing power relations of the capitalist system and representative democracies. Other socio-economic approaches are, on the other hand, labeled utopian, devalued, and excluded from serious discussion if even considered at all. In the framework of the theme-specific installation, “Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies,” the focus will be on diverse concepts, models, and utopias for alternative economies and societies which share in common a rejection by the capitalist system of rule. For each concept, an interview will be carried out from which an English video will be produced. In the exhibition, these single-channel videos, which range from 20 to 37 minutes, will be shown on separate monitors thus forming the central elements of the artistic installation. Presented in the framework of the project are alternative societal and economic models such as “Inclusive Democracy” from Takis Fotopoulos (GB/GR), “Participatory Economy” from Michael Albert (U.S.A.), and “Free Cooperation” from Christoph Spehr (G). Nancy Folbre (U.S.A.) speaks about her concept of “Caring Labor,” and Marge Piercy (U.S.A.) speaks about the feminist-anarchist utopias of her social fantasies. As an interesting historical model, the workers’ self-management in Yugoslavia in the sixties and seventies will be thematized in the exhibition by Todor Kuljic (SCG). Models developed in other specific historical contexts such as “La Commune” in Paris (1870-1871) and the workers’ collectives during the Spanish Civil War (1936-38) will be thematized in the further course of the project. Chosen for each video will be one quotation significant for the alternative model that it presents. The quote will be placed directly on the floor and the walls of the exhibition room as a several meter long text piece. This floor lettering, achieved with adhesive film, leads exhibition visitors directly to the corresponding videos, yet the quotes also overlap one another and subdivide the room into different sections. The exhibition project will be continually expanded in the coming years through further economic and social concepts. These form a non-hierarchically arranged pool, which offers stimulus and suggestions for contemplation of social alternatives and possibilities for action. The plan is to realize the installation “Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies” as a series of exhibitions, regularly expanded by new videos. “Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies” is a project realized in the framework of republicart (http://www.republicart.net), coordinated by Gregor Podnar and produced in cooperation with the Kunstraum der Universität Lüneburg. For further information please contact Alenka Gregoric, artistic director, or Gregor Podnar, co-ordinator of the exhibition, phone/fax: +386 1 421 31 40. The project is funded by: EU-Program Culture 2000, the BKA section for the arts, the cultural ministry of the Republic of Slovenia, and the cultural department of the city of Ljubljana. 12:55:05 PM    comment []

Class Struggle 101 by Barbara Ehrenreich the Progressive, September issue http://www.progressive.org/nov03/ehr1103.html On the evening of August 24, I had dinner with Randy Marcum, who works in the boiler room at Miami University of Ohio. Joining us were about ten other campus workers, plus some of their student supporters. It was a hefty meal--the best the Holiday Inn had to offer--complete with wine and dessert. Which was a good thing, because three weeks later, Marcum was on a hunger strike to dramatize the poverty of Miami University's food service and maintenance workers. Welcome to higher education, twenty-first-century style, where the most important course offered is not listed in the college catalog. It's called Class Struggle, and it pits the men in suits--administrators and trustees--against the men and women who keep the school running: maintenance workers, groundspeople, clerical and technical workers, housekeepers, food service workers. Yale has gotten all the national attention, with its tumultuous three-week-long strike that just ended in a stunning victory for the university's clerical and maintenance workers. But similar clashes are going on in less illustrious places, like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where housekeepers, who have been trying to win union recognition for years, led a lively rally and teach-in on September 23..... 9:50:56 AM    comment []

Report on the Palestine Labor/Stop the Wall Tour, 2003 Abdel Rahem Khatib of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions and Fayez Audah of the Palestine Farmers Union and the "Stop the Wall" campaign, visited the United States from the occupied West Bank 9/12-10/9/03 .  They visited ten cities from the West to the East Coast and met with labor union leaders, organizers, university students, solidarity groups, attended conferences, rallies and more......   Full report:  www.palestinelabor.com Source: Solidarity Infor Services 9:32:02 AM    comment []

Copyright 2003 Lincoln Cushing