Soap-Dish guerilla Installation - September 25, 2020

Below you will find videos of me installing the work accompanied by text and images from each day the installation survived for.

Day One

My first installation and completely unsanctioned. I don’t think I could have been more nervous, that being said, I was more excited than ever about doing something artistic. 

Setting up my ladder and materials quickly, all my anxiety began to dissipate as I started working. Gluing the prints to the pillars one by one, I intentionally leave one image loose enough to remove without damage. I hoped that someone will discover this, inspiring others to attempt removal which will ultimately result in damage to the print. The desired removal of each print was meant to showcase the public’s desire for art, while the destruction was meant to symbolize the financial “gate-keeping” ever-present in the art world. Glancing at each passerby to see their reaction very few take notice of me as expected, it was not until I began to paint that people started actively taking an interest. Before I knew it the area was covered in an explosion of paint (myself included), my way of expressing Soap-Dish was “spilling out onto the street”. It was around this time that I noticed a police officer and swiftly made my exit, walking as quickly as possible while carrying a ladder and my camera tripod.

While walking past my installation a few hours later I was elated to notice that the “free” print had been taken.

Soap-Dish is written on the storefront, paint splashed on windows and sidewalk, two abstract print hangs on a pillar
Soap-Dish written on storefront, paint splashed on windows and sidewalk, one abstract print hangs on a pillar
Dish written on storefront, paint splashed on windows and sidewalk, two abstract prints hang on a pillar
Two abstract prints hanging on a pillar, storefront in the background
Two abstract prints hanging on a pillar, a storefront in the background
Two abstract prints hanging on a pillar, storefront in the background
Soap-Dish is written on the storefront in blue and red paint, four abstract prints hanging on the pillars
One abstract print hanging on a pillar, sidewalk and storefront in the background
one acrylic print and the artist tag on a pillar, the street is blurry in the background

 Day Two

Walking up to the installation on day two the paint had faded slightly, you could immediately tell that a number of the prints had been removed. Upon closer inspection you can see the damage done to the prints during the removal, I couldn’t have been happier things are going according to plan. I grab a few quick close up’s of the damage and make my way home.

Only one print remains.

The first image show is where the intentionally loose print was.

The print has been ripped off the pillar, leaving glue residue behind.
The print has been ripped off the pillar, leaving glue residue behind. bits of blue plastic and tape have been left behind
The print has been ripped off the pillar, leaving glue residue behind. pink plastic pieces and tape remain
The print has been ripped off the pillar, leaving glue residue behind. tape and some blue plastic also remain.
one abstract print on a pillar, paint splashed on the storefront in the background

 Day Three

When I arrive on the third and final day of the planned portion of my installation I am disappointed to see that one of the prints still remained, I had anticipated that when I arrived all the prints would be gone. I leave, returning a few hours later after my initial viewing and I am delighted to find the last print has been removed. All that remains is faded paint with no context, the words “Soap-Dish” in large letters on what would have been a store front’s sign. I take a few pictures of the remaining installation and head home, left with the feeling I accomplished my goal of creating an interactable installation.

soap-dish written on the storefront in blue and red paint, paint splashed on the store windows and sidewalk, black car and sidewalk in the foreground. no prints remain.
Soap-Dish written on the store sign in blue and red paint, paint splashed on store windows and sidewalk. No prints remain on the pillars.
Soap-Dish written on store sign in blue and red paint, paint splashed on store window and sidewalk. No prints remain on the pillars.
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Photo Fantastico 2020