Towards Post-Capitalist Spaces

New York, November 12 — 21, 2009
Gair Building No 6, 81 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (York Stop on the F Train)
The transformation of the urban landscape within the last decades has increasingly been dominated by the demands of capitalist utilization. Due to the current crisis, however, which goes far beyond a mere crisis of the real estate and financial market, these neoliberal politics and attendant forms of production of space have been subject to a loss of legitimation. For this reason, not only do the dominance and promises of the privatization model, the free market and private property have to be questioned, but also the conventions of the space-producing professions that follow and materialize these policies.
In this context the event “Ten Days for Oppositional Architecture” takes up the task of exploring possibilities and conditions of a socially committed architectural practice. Therefore the narrow boundaries of the profession have to be left behind. We hence invite activists, geographers, architects, planners, and economists representing different critical approaches to discuss and develop concepts and practices that not only try to oppose and challenge the capitalist mode of production of space, but also try to go beyond it strategies of de-commodification, re-appropriation and alternative production of space. We will look at already existing spatial actions of resistance as well as search for possibilities to further theorize them: How can these strategies and alternative practices be turned into social and political forces towards post-capitalist spaces?
All events are public. All those interested are welcome.
Free dinner will be served during discussion evenings.
An exhibition and a reading corner will support and document the discussions.
Program
Wednesday, November 11, 6 pm
Opening Reception
Thursday, November 12, 7 pm
The Decommodification of Housing
Discussion with James deFilippis, geographer, Rutgers University, New Brunswick · Esther Wang and Helena Wong of CAAAV, Organizing Asian Communities, New York
Friday, November 13, 7 pm
Bar + programming by Lize Mogel and Alexis Baghat, An Atlas of Radical Cartography*
Saturday, November 14, 7 pm
The Real Estate Crisis, Private Property and the Prospects of Planning
Discussion with David Kotz, economist, University of Massachusetts Amherst · Teddy Cruz, architect, San Diego
Sunday, November 15, 7 pm
Bar + programming by tba*
Monday, November 16, 7 pm
On the Commons: Taking versus Granting Rights
Discussion with Peter Linebaugh, historian, University of Toledo · Brett Bloom of Midwest Radical Culture Corridor, Urbana · Rob Robinson of Picture the Homeless, New York
Tuesday, November 17, 7 pm
Bar + programming by common room*
Wednesday, November 18, 7 pm
Territory as a Means of Struggle
Discussion with United Workers, Baltimore · Neil Smith, geographer, City University New York
Thursday, November 19, 7 pm
Bar + programming by Amanda Schachter and Alexander Levi of SLO architecture*
Friday, November 20, 7 pm
Reclaiming Capitalist Spaces
Discussion with Janelle Cornwell and Julie Graham, geographers, University of Massachusetts Amherst · Max Rameau of Take Back the Land, Miami
Saturday, November 21, 12 pm
Towards Post-Capitalist Spaces
Lecture by David Harvey, geographer, City University New York, 12 pm
Workshops with special guests*, 2 — 6 pm
Final presentation and discussion, 7 pm
Party, 10 pm
* For more details and updates please visit:
www.oppositionalarchitecture.com
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A project by:
An Architektur
Produktion und Gebrauch gebauter Umwelt
Alexanderstrasse 7, D-10178 Berlin
organized by Oliver Clemens, Sabine Horlitz, Anita Kaspar, Kim Förster
www.anarchitektur.com / contact: redaktion@anarchitektur.com
On occasion of:
Commissioned by Performa. Presented by Performa and Storefront for Art and Architecture. Supported by the Graham Foundation, IFA (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen) and Two Trees Management, Inc.
Performa 09 (November 1-22, 2009) is the third biennial of new visual art performance presented by Performa, a non-profit multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to exploring the critical role of live performance in the history of twentieth century art and to encouraging new directions in performance for the twenty-first century.
www.performa-arts.org