Oliver Herring at TASK in Madison Square Park, September 2014. Production still from the series ART21 Exclusive. © ART21, Inc. 2014. Cinematographer: Rafael Salazar.
“Part of the value of TASK is not to invest into anything permanent—to really celebrate the moment, the fluidity of creative action.” —Oliver Herring
Today’s ART21 Exclusive follows artist Oliver Herring around Madison Square Park as he organizes his largest TASK Party to date. TASK parties encourage people to take creative risks and to break down social barriers through a simple, “self-perpetuating” cycle: Each participant writes down a task and places it into a box and, in exchange, retrieves a task from the box. Participants work together to realize their tasks through provided materials such as paint, paper, tape, plastic wrap, and foil. “These tasks, they can be interpreted however you want,” says Herring. “The tools are your imagination and your imagination is limitless.” Since 2002, Herring has organized TASK events around the world, at military bases, museums, churches, schools, and other venues.
ART21 Exclusive is supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; 21c Museum Hotel, and by individual contributors.
CREDITS: Producer: Ian Forster. Consulting Producer: Wesley Miller & Nick Ravich. Interviewer: Ian Forster. Camera: Rafael Salazar & Ava Wiland. Sound: Amanda Long & Ava Wiland. Editor: Morgan Riles. Artwork Courtesy: Oliver Herring. Special Thanks: N Wayne Bailey, Peter Krashes & Madison Square Park Conservancy. Theme Music: Peter Foley.
