Episode 23: Art & Solidarity Economies with Christina Freeman

The legacy we leave through art and interaction is just as important as the footprint we leave on this planet through our consumption. 

 

In our highly capitalist society with consumerism skyrocketing higher than ever, with no end in sight, especially living in the city, it feels impossible to stray away from the comforts of efficiency. 

 

Living outside of this paradigm is of course considered alternative, so in order to create a new paradigm, it is up to smaller groups of like-minded people creating solidarity economies all over the world, using trading as a means of purchasing items. 

 

Our guest on today’s episode is living this truth and has joined us to let us in on how she does it. Christina Freeman, is a teacher at Hunter College, a practicing artist and curator, creating conceptual art using photography, video, artist books, multimedia installation, and participatory performance. 

 

Christina has shaped her life to be one that is true to what she believes, and that is to operate in an economy that makes sense to her, and is living by example inspiring others to do the same.

 

Christina is a talented artist with beautiful insight that you don’t want to miss!

 

 

Topics discussed in this episode:

 

• How efficiency culture manifests in our lives
• How the project ‘Plums for Trash’ was created
• Solidarity economies around the world
• Personal insights on selling for money vs. trading
• The psychological and emotional power of exchanging items
• What economy means to Christina
• Why Christina isn’t interested in efficiency
• Recommendations on how to participate in alternative economies
• The Amazon trap
• Why must artists take what they can't get?
• The disparity of cost of living and artist income in NYC
• A piece of art that has changed Christina’s outlook or behavior
• Art life crossover
• Christina’s response to critique and pushback of conceptual art
• Why Christina moved out of NYC

To get in touch with Christina head to her Instagram page or her .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}