Mel Chin @ AAC, part 2: The Fundreds are Coming!

First, as we've already announced: Mel Chin will be giving a free lecture on Tuesday, March 24, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, at the Arlington Arts Center as part of the closing party for PUBLIC/PRIVATE, our current show juxtaposing art out in the world that requires the viewer’s direct physical participation with works about the artist’s immediate social or domestic sphere. Chin’s socially and ecologically conscious collaborative projects fit seamlessly with the show’s premise. Again, the talk is free—but due to anticipated high demand, we ask that you please call or e-mail ahead to the AAC to reserve your spot.

Second, more news about Mel Chin and the AAC: Mel’s talk will serve as the kickoff for the FUNDRED/PAYDIRT Project in Arlington public schools.

The AAC has been selected as a collection point for Chin’s FUNDRED dollar bills—which will be produced by students in local public K-12 schools. These Fundreds will be collected and exhibited at the center, along with documentation and video of the FUNDRED/PAYDIRT Project in action. The show will take up the AAC’s two Truland galleries, and will be on view April 17 – June 6, 2009.

Third: The AAC will be hosting a FUNDRED workshop for children and families on Saturday, April 18. Free and open to the public—but please call or write to reserve your spot!

About FUNDRED/PAYDIRT: The FUNDRED DOLLAR BILL PROJECT is made of millions of hand-drawn artworks—FUNDRED dollar bills—created by children and community members across the U.S., and collected by educators. These drawings will eventually be used to support OPERATION PAYDIRT, which will work to make safe the lead polluted soil of New Orleans. This underreported problem puts thousands of children at risk for severe learning disabilities and behavioral problems, including violent crime.

Once 3,000,000 artworks have been generated, a special armored car equipped to run on recycled vegetable oil will visit all of the collection points nationwide—and eventually deliver the three FUNDRED million dollars to Congress, hopefully to be exchanged for the same amount of actual cash.

You can read more about the artist and the project, download a FUNDRED template, and even see a map of collection sites nationwide on the fundred.org website.