Global Free Store
Global Free Store was an exhibition and non-commercial storefront installation, in lower Manhattan. Part cultural pop-up shop, part second hand boutique, the project was a networking model of economic sustenance that can be used in cities worldwide. This first Global Free Store opened on Thursday, February 19th and remained open until Sunday, March 22nd, 2009.
Free Shopping
Using the barter and exchange system, visitors could give something useful or get something useful at Free Store. Located blocks away from Wall Street, Free Store accepted donations of items such as books and clothing, offered these items for the taking, and stocked a few items produced in-house by the artists.
The Global Free Store received worldwide media attention and had nearly 1,500 visitors and participants who filled the exhibit daily.
Events and Performances
Free Store hosted special events by invited curators Felicity Hogan, Edwin Ramoran, Julie Sengle and Herb Tam. These events include a curator’s talk, open office hours for artists to get feedback on their work, and interactive artist performances. “Alternative and generous systems such as bartering have long been used in times of financial hardship,” said the artists Athena Robles and Anna Stein. “Artists, in particular, are familiar with having to be creative to make ends meet and have functioned on generous systems, especially artist-to-artist. The Global Free Store aims to broaden this circle of trust and exchange by including the general public.”
More information on items produced for the Free Store available here
