Friday, March 26, 2010

Waiting Room

Looking for a place to relax or perhaps wait for your next appointment?  Well then you're in luck.  Info from the Spoke site...


Waiting Room as presented in Montreal in 2005

One day only! Presented by Stephanie Nadeau, hosted by Spoke, and back by popular demand, Waiting Room invites you to come spend your time. Our mission is to allow you to contribute your time comfortably and productively while remaining completely idle. Wait for as little or as long as you like, it’s entirely up to you. Stop by anytime for your free timecard and we’ll get you started on a rewarding and enjoyable waiting experience. We look forward to seeing you!


Waiting Room is a performance that operates much like a place of business. On March 27th, from 12-8pm, Spoke will be transformed into a waiting room, complete with comfy chairs, a variety of reading material, and soothing music. A camera will monitor the room, automatically capturing digital stills at regular intervals.

As a participant, you will be asked to sign and stamp a timecard, and we’ll set a timer for your desired wait time. This can be as short or as long as you like, minutes or hours*. Then relax and enjoy an aimless span of time. An attendant will call your name when your wait is over, and you’ll again be asked to stamp your time card to conclude the experience.


The images and minutes collected during the performance will be used as documents of the event, and presented together as a monument to moments lost in waiting. Nadeau is interested in how these performed instances of waiting function within the larger narrative of the mechanics of time, as well as how they engage the politics of production, and offer a new valuation of idle time.


*Refreshments will be made available to anyone wishing to wait for an hour or more.

Here's an article in New City by Jason Foumberg with more info.
Waiting Room at Spoke
Saturday, March 27th, 2010 only
Hours of Operation: 12-8pm
119 N. Peoria, Unit 3D, Chicago, IL, 60607

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