Extended Field Trip #001

EVERYTHING IS OK in Peterborough as of October 15th 2009….
according to Justin A. Langlois and Joshua Babcock, two members of Broken City Lab, an artist collective based in Windsor Ontario.

Following their one week residency at Artspace, during which Broken City Lab investigated our community for evidence of it being broken and neglected, based on their hypothesis that most small to mid-size Ontario cities are currently suffering in one way or another, their research, interviews with the public, and a series of public meetings held at Artspace, led them to conclude that in Peterborough, at least on the surface, EVERYTHING IS OK.

To get a sense of their research on Peterborough, please check out their blog on the project at http://www.brokencitylab.org/blog/extended-field-trip-day-1-stable-city/#comment-1533

The notes and research undertaken during the residency are on display at ARTSPACE until Wednesday Oct. 28 along with installation of their proposed new motto for the city…. “EVERYTHING IS OK.”  If you haven’t seen this message glow at night through the ARTSPACE windows, do walk by in the next two days, as it truly is one of the most optimistic signs to be found around town.

Surprised by how well functioning and positive our community is, BCL worked hard to try and narrow down some of the key elements that make Peterborough a healthy city.  They will be taking these lessons home hoping that in Windsor “EVERYTHING WILL BE OK” one of these days.

ARTSPACE will stay in touch with BCL for updates on what’s happening in Windsor and if any ideas collected in Peterborough translate to help other communities in the province. 

Broken City Lab is a creative research group engaged in activity located at the intersection of social practice, performance, and activism. The lab attempts to generate a new dialogue surrounding public participation and community engagement in the creative process, with a focus on the city as both a research site and workspace. For one week in October, Broken City Lab will collaborate with ARTSPACE for a series of community and inter-city research initiatives, workshops, and interventions to understand the city of Peterborough, its infrastructures, and its communities.

Broken City Lab work schedule:

October 13, 14, 15, 16: "Open Office Hours" Ongoing Open Office Hours / Public Meetings / Workshops daily at 4-5:30pm

October 13: "Extended Field Trip: An Introduction to Our Social Practice" Opening Artist Talk / Overview of Research Plans for Peterborough at 7pm

October 14: "Get Lost: An Algorithmic Adventure with Strangers" Exploring the City and Getting to Know Neighbourhoods on Foot at 5pm

October 15: "Open Forum: On the City of Peterborough" Townhall Meeting / Community Discussion on the city of Peterborough at 7pm

October 16: "Home Work from an Extended Field Trip: Comparing notes on what to do with the city in 96 hours" Closing Performance / Activity at 7pm