Freedom of Expression in the Corporate Age

From January 25-February 21, 2003, the offices of In These Times will be transformed into a gallery to host Illegal Art: Freedom of Expression in the Corporate Age, a visual, audio and video show featuring works that challenge the expansion of copyright law and the policing of creative expression. Exhibit hours will be Mon/Wed/Fri from noon to 6:00 pm.

This national exhibition was organized by Stay Free! magazine, and opened to enthusiastic crowds in New York on Nov. 13; it will travel on to San Francisco later in the year.

Illegal Art explores what is rapidly becoming the “degenerate art” of a corporate age: art and ideas on the legal fringes of intellectual property. Many artists in the show have been sued, often by major corporations, and have ended up defending their works in court. Loaded with gray areas, intellectual property law inevitably has a silencing effect, discouraging art that comments on today’s culture.

Where do First Amendment and “intellectual property” law collide? This question and others will be explored in the exhibit and in related programs:

• The media and other interested parties are invited to a pre-opening press conference on Sat., January 25 at 5:00 pm, where artist Kembrew McLeod will be turning the tables on a major corporation by presenting legal action regarding material he has trademarked. The exhibit opening will follow from 6:00-9:00 pm.
• The show will be included in one of the winter’s largest art festivals, Around the Coyote, Feb. 7-9. Illegal Art will be open Fri., noon to 7:00 pm; Sat., noon to 6:00 pm and Sun. noon to 4:00 pm.
• A special showing of the film and video program will be held on the evenings of Feb. 7 and 8 at Select Media’s gallery (buddy.), 1542 N. Milwaukee Avenue, 2nd floor. Evolution Control Committee is scheduled to perform. Films will also be available for viewing at the In These Times exhibit space.
• A Feb. 15 panel debate organized in conjunction with The Public Square will feature Lawrence Lessig, a Stanford Law professor and the chair of Creative Commons. Additional artists will participate, including Dj Spooky that Subliminal Kid (invited) and Mark Hosler, a founding member of experimental music/art collective Negativland.

Check back for more information or contact Jessica Clark at 773-772-0100, ext. 246 or jessica@inthesetimes.com.

Sponsors—Full sponsors: Stay Free!, In These Times, Dix Art Mix/FOTA, The Public Square, Lumpen, and Select Media, Ellis Avenue Studios; Co-sponsor: Around the Coyote.