Real Not Real

Last week, my friend Alex Vessels had an installation at a former stop on the Underground Railroad. The event was lovely, with sound being the primary communicator of information–a mix of interviews with former slaves, spirituals (“Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning”), Malcolm X speeches, pro-America anthems and a bit of Tupac.

A video was projected on a scrim hanging from curbside construction materials, and candle lanterns were hung outside the Brooklyn home. Currently, the city only has standard-issue construction signs proclaiming the house as the former home of abolitionists and part of the Underground Railroad. In light of the standard-issue vibe that the site currently has, the installation was quite nice because it worked with the space rather than against it. Most of the piece relied on components that already existed in the space, so only the lanterns and a projector were needed to create a moment in time.

Overall, a really nice exploration of sound and interaction–quietly calling out a site that was–and is still–invisible to many.