The first “press conference” performance in the A Pressing Conference series took place at Abrons Art Center in New York. Macon Reed curated speakers for this iteration based on the twenty points highlighted in Timothy Synder’s text, Twenty Lessons From The Twentieth Century.
After a brief meditation on the political climate brought in by the 2016 election delivered by Macon Reed, author Timothy Snyder came to the podium to share his research into authoritarian regimes and how it applied to the current moment in the United States.
Artist and tech writer Mimi Onuoha discussed her project “Inform/Transform” and how the public can be better aware of how the media shapes, manipulates, and transforms information we receive.
Actor Reynaldo Piniella delivered a campaign platform speech and a brief workshop in delivering political speeches based on his participation in the Artist Campaign School. Artist Campaign School “recruits, trains, and mentors artists and arts administrators for elected office.”
Photo Credits: Benjy Russell