Public Trust

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Title: Public Trust
Photo Credit: Ryan McMahon
Lead Artist(s):

Description:

Public Trust, a free interactive traveling artwork by Paul Ramirez Jonas, asked Bostonians to consider the meaning of a promise for 21 days during the 2016 presidential election in three different locations ensuring a diversity of responses and the creation of social space through participation. Using Ramirez Jonas’ performance score, 13 artist ambassadors empathetically listened to 956 Bostonians, collected their promises at a custom Promise Table and together created a contract, an artwork they could keep, and performed a ceremonial oath. Individuals’ promises took center stage for 5-15 minutes at a time on a 16’ portable Marquee made of scaffolding and plywood, surrounded by promissory statements taken that day from headline news to provide context. Regardless of age, status, or race, Greater Boston residents and tourists alike added to Public Trust. Together, we questioned the integrity of our promises and explored the potent speech act that keeps a society together. The operation was stuck at night and reappeared at the next location early in the morning to ensure the piece was always active. Locations included: Dudley Square Branch of the Boston Public Library, in the heart of a predominantly African American neighborhood facing gentrification (Roxbury, MA); Kendall Center at Kendall/MIT train station in the hub of innovation and technology (Cambridge, MA); and Copley Square, a Boston park, in front of historic Trinity Church and the iconic I.M. Pei tower (Boston, MA).

PROJECT LOCATION

Library
Municipal Building/Site
Park
Plaza
Public Space
Location #1: 65 Warren Street, Boston, MA 02119. Location #2: Kendall Center, 315 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 Location #3: Copley Square, 560 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
Greater Boston MA - Dudley, Kendall and Copley
, MA
United States

click the map to enlarge
PROJECT TEAM

Now + There
PROJECT DETAILS

Temporary
196,555
Private
Installation, Performance, Sculpture
Mixed Media
2016
2017