Playing the Field…

We were thinking long and hard about the last project for this year’s Field Theory. After a number of meetings and wrestling with what we should do we had come to an impasse. Some of us were pulling in the ‘no more things on the earth’ direction, others hated this naive hippie approach and some were wanting to throw spanners in all the works and plump for an anarchists angle on the whole thing. Ideas were batted around - sometimes we got all the way to the voting stage and then at the next meeting they didn’t seem interesting any more.

I don’t know how it happened but I think someone said “Look all of these ideas are great we just need to pick one and go with it”. And I think maybe someone was talking about Miranda July at the same time, but God forbid we admit to Sarah Rodigari that she has been an influence because she will quit Field Theory and never speak to us again. And so we came to the idea of how about 200 ideas  - one for every member and give them a choice - a vote.

The surprise that has come out of this experiment is the excitement of the network that we have created, and its want to be more and more involved in the concept. So it seems natural and fitting that we handed the final project over to it.

DEMOCRATIC CATALOGUE FINAL RESULTS

(Below are the top eight choices with the number of votes they received.)

15 votes
POT LUCK Dinner with Field Theory membership at Head Quarters (Melbourne) / Serial space (Sydney) CIA Studios (Perth) & Inbetweenspaces (Brisbane).

6 votes
REAL ART Each Field Theory organiser will make a small piece of art that tries to make a change in Australia.
MIX TAPE Nominate a song. We’ll send out the 200 tracks to all subscribers.

5 votes
INVEST We invest the money in stocks and shares to hopefully profit and give money to artists forever. (Paul Gazzolas idea)
FILM We get you each to send in a minute of video. We make this into a feature film. We screen it.

4 votes
SKY WRITING We pull one field theory members name out of a hat and sky write a message of their choice.
POSTER We send you a handmade beautiful limited edition Field Theory poster printed on the BIG FAG press.
PAID WORK We pay someone to do the Field Theory Administration for the following year.

The Field Theory Catalogue!

1. Field Theory presents: The Democratic Catalogue.

 
To you, from us.

Field Theory is organised by a group of seven diverse artists and thinkers.

Field Theory membership is composed of a whole lot of strangers who we would love to know better.

Our last project is about you. What do you want from us?

Here we submit ONE HUNDRED ideas for the final project, and final gift of our inaugural year.

We have spent some of the money on postage already, but the last of it will be spent on your collective choice.
We believe in all of these projects.

It’s simple. You get to pick one of these ideas. The idea with the most votes will be enacted by us. Read carefully, your choice could be replicated for 199 other members.
You have one week from receiving this email to choose.
This is democracy.

Let the voting begin.

1. SKY WRITING

We pull one field theory members name out of a hat and sky write a message of their choice.

.

2. GOOGLE MAPS

We print out a google street view of your house, graffiti your wall and send it to you.

3. INVEST

We invest the money in stocks and shares to hopefully profit and give money to artists forever.
(Paul Gazzolas idea)

INVEST We invest the money in stocks and shares to hopefully profit and give money to artists forever. (Paul Gazzolas idea)   I choose this one.

4. GALLERY.
We hire a gallery. You send us something to put in the gallery. We mind the gallery.

5. MIX TAPE

Nominate a song. We’ll send out the 200 tracks to all subscribers.

6. ANOTHER ARTIST’S PROJECT

We give the rest of the cash to another deserving artist.

7. AMBASSADOR

A field theory organiser knocks on every door of every field theory member to deliver a flower. They’ll also shake your hand and take a photo. We will do this until the money runs out. (Those members in Ireland, we are not promising anything.)

8. COFFEE

We organise members to have a free coffee near to their homes, hopefully with another Field Theory member. If no other Field Theory members live near you, then we buy you a cake to go with your coffee.

9. LOCKET

We send you a locket of hair from a Field Theory Organiser.

10. QUILT

We get a great quilter make a quilt with 200 squares that represent each member. We donate the quilt to an elderly persons home.

11. POP

We pay a famous pop group to write a song for us around the themes of art, money and mail. Field Theory members download it on itunes.

12. HOTLINE

Field Theory members get the phone number of Field Theory organiser. You can call us any time of the day or night for whatever reason, for one month. The phone might connect to:

Martyn: A 30 something daytime TV addict and part time VJ. (Straight, in a relationship.)

Jason: A New Zealander father of three who likes colouring in (Married).

Willoh: An artistic director of an arts organisation who can speak Belizian creole (Available).

Sarah: An artist who is learning to fold maps
(Gay, in a relationship).

Rebecca: An economist who often is in Canberra consulting to Ms Gillard (Married, also with three children who already keep her awake a lot).

Lara: Vegan, really into dancing (Available).

Jackson: Trained teacher and film maker, would be a jock if he wasn’t an artist (Straight, in a relationship).

13. TIME CAPSULE

Field Theory prints all the correspondence it has had between with its members, places them in a time capsule and cements the capsule into the ground somewhere in Melbourne.

14. MERCH

We send you a shirt that says “I subscribed to Field Theory and all I got was this lame t-shirt.”

15. YOUR IDEA.

We invite all of you to send us one idea. We choose one to enact.

16. MIRANDA JULY

We ask Miranda July to make an artwork that only you get to see.
(Sarah hates this idea.)

17. RADIO

We buy slots on commercial radio and play obscure sound art.

18. PARTY

We put on a party in Tarcutter (the midpoint between Sydney and Melbourne) and members are all invited.

19. A-TONE-MENT

We total up Australian Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott’s flights for the year and carbon offset them for him.

20. FLAG

We design, make and send you all a Field Theory flag.

21. KLF

Burn the remaining money in a ritualised event on an island close to Melbourne.

22. ARTIST RUN

Donate the money to an artist run space in each state.

23. JACKS BEANS

A small box containing six magic beans sent to every member – exchange them for a cow or throw them out the window.

24. COME ON DOWN

We have a lottery and one of you becomes a Field Theory organiser for a year.

25. KISS AND TELL

Each of us will write an academic essay on a time that we were in love and send it to all of you.

26. LEGALLY BINDING

A beautifully printed legal contract and accompanying documentation deed box - entitling all Field Theory members to make hand written amendments describing other parties acts of creative philanthropy – The contract and deed documentation box is passed to the other party who will in turn chose somebody else to amend the contract with. On it goes ad infinitum.

27. ANYONE CAN MAKE NONSENSE.

We split the final money evenly between 1) a visual artist, 2) a theatre maker and 3) a film maker and get them to make a live art work each.

28. BOOKED

A book we agree all members should read is sent to all of you.

29. SMALL TALK

A personalised collection of revealing, humorous, deeply touching or　frivolous conversation material written for members on small cards for use atthe hairdressers, childrens parties or at the local gym.

30. RELAX

We buy heaps of hammocks put them up at closed petrol stations.

31. PARCELS

Field Theory make parcels of underwear, socks and food rations and send them to random addresses in remote and cold areas on behalf of the members.

32. EGG SMASH

We decorate 200 organic chicken eggs with pictures of famous Australian artists and then smash them.

33. FRUIT BASKET

A fruit basket hand is delivered to selected members doors that is made up of locally grown produce (i.e. neighbors trees.)

FRUIT BASKET A fruit basket hand is delivered to selected members doors that is made up of locally grown produce (i.e. neighbors trees.)   I choose this one.

34. SEXY CALENDAR

A Calendar of Field Theory organisers posing.

35. ELLEN DEGENEROUS

We spend the money on trying to get Ellen to sign up as the ambassador of Field Theory and be the face of our campaign to attract the next 200 members.

36. KARAOKE

You send us requests. We do a durational 200 song karaoke session. You can come or see the documentation.

37. PORTRAITS OF YOUR CHILD

We draw a portrait of how we imagine your child would look if you slept with one of us.

38. SPORT.

We buy every ticket to one sporting match and only invite you.

39. I PATCH

A Field Theory Eye patch for everyone.

40. PROXIMITY

We find the Field Theory member who lives closest to you. We give you a map and you meet half way.

41. PUBLICATION

We make a pretty publication documenting the three projects we supported and send it to you.

42. CHEQUE

We send one of you a cheque for a few grand. You have the choice to cash it or pass it onto the next member.

(This was an early idea that divided the Field Theory organisers.)

43. ARM WRESTLE

The Field Theory organisers will stage an arm wrestling comp with Melbourne based Art Collective ‘Tape Projects’.
The winner takes all.

44. FOREST OF DEAD ART

We create a forest of trees dedicated to dead art projects complete with plaques.
(A deadpan idea.)

45. HOT AIR

One of you comes on a hot air balloon ride across Melbourne with us, everyone else gets the photo.

46. 200

We meet for one day in a studio with all the craft essentials. We will then create 200 beautiful objects that will never be repeated again. You will be sent one of them.

47. RINGTONE

A Field Theory Ring Tone is composed and then made available for download to members.

48. MERRI CREEK

A copy of the 2010 Merri Creek Primary School CD for every member, including the hit single from the Shapes.

49. FERTILIZER

We find 200 random editions of any agricultural magazine published in the last year and cut out every mention of the word FIELD or THEORY and send them to you in a tiny box titled ‘Fertilizer’

50.
BEDTIME GLORY
Field Theory members favourite bedtime story read to you over the phone as you fall asleep by a Field Theory organiser of your choice. With sound effects performed in the back ground by other members.

51. LASERS, SMOKE MACHINES and GLITTER CANNONS

In unexpected places.

52. REAL ART

Each Field Theory organiser will make a small piece of art that tries to make a change in Australia.

53. NEVER GIVE UP.

An empowering statement of your choice – hand made by us into a small banner for the inside of your toilet door.

54. ALL THESE IDEAS AND MORE

Written into 200 notebooks. You can pass it on or horde them for personal use.

55. PRIVATE DANCER

A personal live skype dance from a one of us, or if they agree, another field theory member.

(Lara made everyone do this recently with a stranger during a field theory meeting. It was fun.)

56. POT LUCK

Dinner with Field Theory membership at Head Quarters (Melbourne) / Serial space (Sydney) CIA Studios (Perth) & Inbetweenspaces (Brisbane).

57. PAID VOLUNTEERING

We pay one of you to take two weeks off work to volunteer at a place of your choice.

58. NGV

The Field Theory organisers create a visual artwork and donate it to the National Gallery of Victoria.

59. COLORING IN.

Several of you receieve a service where we come to your house and organise your things into colors and shapes.

60. PAID WORK

We pay someone to do the Field Theory Administration for the following year.

61. KITCHEN

A recipe book sent to you made up of recipes from Field Theory and their chef friends.

62. Website

Create a website titled www.mymostembarrassingartwork.com for anyone to contribute to.

63. HAND IT OVER

To the Minister of the Arts.

64. MASCOT

A Field Theory mascot is designed and a plush toy, and full body costume are created.

65. FREE POT

Field Theory plant marijuana plants in Melbournes parks and gardens.

66. POSTER

We send you a handmade beautiful limited edition Field Theory poster printed on the BIG FAG press.

67. BABIES

A free Artist Run Creche for four weekends of one month.

68. COMIC

We pay artist Patrick Grant to make a comic book about the trials and tribulations or Field theory 2010.

69. PERFUME

You recieve the Field theory scent.

70. CONFERENCE

We co-ordinate a conference on the state of live art in Australia.

71. BEDROOM

All 200 of you get something sent from on of our bedrooms wrapped in celophane.

72. FILM

We get you each to send in a minute of video. We make this into a feature film. We screen it.

73. ADVISOR

A piece of good advice.

74. ECONOMICS

An invitation to a short lecture on the economics of the airwaves, accompanied by PowerPoint slides with lots of bullet points and graphs, presented by Field Theory organiser Rebecca.

75. BOTANICAL

A plaque that indicates a donation made by FT on behalf of it’s members to one major botanic garden in Australia.

76. LAOWEI

Martyn will stand on a corner of a Taipei street with a t-shirt that says ‘big nose’ on it and offer himself out for photos.

77. SKILLS

One of us pays to do a course in basic plumbing maintenance and works for free on your homes.

78. EMERGING.

Join us for a visit Tom Polos studio to choose an artwork to buy. We will sell the work in ten years and distribute any profit to other artists.

79. TAQUERIA

We make a taco cart and take it to art openings.

80. PUBLIC TRANSPORT

We jump on board and pay for everyones tickets untill the money runs out.

81. BABABA

We help artists Bababa International pay back their debt.
http://www.bababainternational.com/projects/investing/

82. COMEDY

All 200 of you send us a joke. One of us performs all of them as part of the Melbourne International Comedy festival.

83. PARADE.

Join us in the inaugural Field Theory parade.

84. AQUARIUM

We build a beautiful aquarium at Head Quarters ARI with 200 fish and name each one after one of you.

(Inspired by Fleur Mitchells contribution for A Stock Exchange)

85. EXPERIMENTAL LUNCHBOX.

Delivered to your workplace.

86. NIPPON

A donation to Japan.

87. FRIENDS

We reenact an episode. There were 6 of them and 7 of us so Jackson does the camera.

88. RE_GIFTING

We will enable you to send a gift to another member.

89. SNAPS

We ask you to send in a photo of yourself. We make a cut out of your head and take photos of you in weird places and send them to you.

90. BANNER.

We string a banner with all members names on it across a footbridge on the highway in each major city.

.

91. OPEN HOUSE

We open one of our houses to you all each month and serve pancakes. You could host one too.

92. PORTRAIT

You all send us a portrait of yourselves and then we make a composite of it and send it to The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

93. PASTA
We commission artist Charlie Sofo to make you each a bag of homemade pasta.

94. 80s PUBLIC ART

Come and paint a fucking mural.

95. BLENDER.

We try and attach blenders to Melbourne and Sydneys hire bikes so pedalling = tropical smoothies.

(Lara has been wanting to do this for a while.)

96. BAND

We perform as a band for one night only. Only you are invited.

97. GIFT VOUCHER.

To a real shop.

98. FUSION

All 200 of you send us a teabag. We create the fusion blend.

99. THIS IS YOUR LIFE

We commission a dancer to choreograph a work about one of your lives.

THIS IS YOUR LIFE We commission a dancer to choreograph a work about one of your lives.   I choose this one.

100. WALLPAPER

We print out this survey and wallpaper it around town.

Deborah says…

Field Theory’s second project is the Holy Families Project by Deborah Kelly.

Deborah is currently seeking models and research assistants for her Holy Families Project (http://www.fieldtheory.com.au/) that generous Field Theory contributions are helping to support.

She is looking for heterosexual couples, male couples and single women who are using or have used IVF, surrogacy or GIFT technology to conceive, who would be willing to appear in the work. She also needs assistance with library research - from anyone! If you would like to help or know anyone who might be interesting in assisting Deborah with this project, please contact her: deborahkelly@iinet.net.au

Follow the progress of her project here at the Field Theory blog…