AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

"To make people free is the aim of art, therefore art for me is the
science of freedom." Joseph Beuys

Three months ago, hoping to find artists willing to volunteer for a most unusual art event, Episodes placed an advertisement on the Internet. We specifically made our appeal to artists, because they genuinely represent a sensibility that depends and operates on the basic principles of freedom. To that one hopeful announcement, 129 artists from four continents responded with sincere interest and enthusiasm. After days of reviewing, we selected 13 of them to participate in what had come to be known as ‘13 Isolations’ and the beginning of a historical moment in the making and experiencing of art.

Our 13 artists will be locked in solitary confinement during the entire month of August 2008. As living metaphors, they will represent the social ills that separate so many in our world, embodying the millions imprisoned by the walls of injustice, prejudice and poverty. The sacrifice of their freedom of movement made by these 13 international artists points to the unwilling and tragic sacrifices made by people every day who are isolated by the ravages of the earth’s climate, racial and sexual discrimination, child labor, wrongful imprisonment for dissident opinions, tribalism and war. As they create artwork that reflects the nuances of their aloneness, the artists will be broadcast live eight hours each day via Internet and, we envisage, will become part of the personal experience of millions of viewers worldwide.

We wish to raise awareness around these global issues:
· Child Labour
· Forced Labour
· Human Trafficking
· Land and Economic Refugees
· Trafficking of Natural Resources
· Tribalism
· Ghettos,
· Racism
· Sexism
· Wrongful Imprisonments
· Violence against women
· Crimes Against the Environment

The location for this historical art event is the Oostereiland Prison in Hoorn, Netherlands. The City Government of Hoorn enthusiastically sponsors the use of this landmark site. One day following their release, the prison will open to the public for an exhibition of the artwork created by the 13 artists. The multicultural mix of artists extends into a global cultural network and will culminate in a colorful display unlike any other art exhibition in recent memory. This artists’ initiative seeks to accomplish what no other group show has ever managed to do and, as a result, it will set a precedent for others to follow.

We aim to make full use of the World Wide Web by constructing a docking station to bring viewers to the event and interact with them as they move past our site. Through the optimum use of viral marketing, we expect hundreds of thousands of people to witness the effect of isolation on these very creative minds as they struggle to transform the basic living conditions in a prison over 100 years old. This is an event designed specifically for the public domain, and it could only happen because of the World Wide Web. It represents the best model we have for freedom of expression and the act of sharing information for a better world. Only now is it possible for the global community to directly fund an art event with virtual, Internet efficiency and without the filter and selective processes of public and private funding institutions.

Like most grand and noble efforts, there are costs and contributions to reckon with. Episodes’ intention, as a non-profit art organization, is to work with companies through in-kind contributions of specific materials in return for exposure of their brand or logo, making ‘13 Isolations’ a highly effective, national and international public relations opportunity. We hope to realize ‘13 Isolations’ by appealing directly to the global community to sponsor the event and exhibition with donations of any kind and amount.

In return for your support, your company name, brand name, tag or logo will be placed on all promotional material relating to the ‘13 Isolation’ event and exhibition, as well as on our website, in the public media, in the exhibition catalogue and on the poster announcing the event. You become part of an art event that will produce a collection of very special artworks. The information gathered from the isolated artists about their period of isolation will be made available to the public, NGOs and various levels of government through our archives and, we hope, will help to raise awareness and contribute to solutions in a grim social climate.

Anthony Murrell
Episodes, a product art network
www.13isolations.com
info@episodesnetwork.org