SAMANTHA ALLEN The Craigslist Project at Earl Selkirk Gallery (2928 Dundas Street West) to May 31. 416-901-7464. See listing.
Contemporary art photography and media provocateur Samantha Allen decided to post contemporary art disguised as Craigslist ads in New York.
She was curious how the usual denizens of Criagslisters – who scour the site for anything from used furniture, odd jobs, concert tickets, and anonymous sex – would respond. It’s called the Craigslist Project.
Of those who responded to the ads, some caught on ( “Thanks for the laugh!” said one respondent), a smattering were clueless, there was some good-natured confusion and then the expected faltering baseline of aggression, ignorance and obscenity.
Allen’s whimsical baiting technique can veer towards the prankish, almost giving Sacha Baron Cohen a run for his money. Posing as a potential boss, one ad asks for a “Pebble collector”, whose additional duties include “cutting my toenails, calling my mother on her birthday, picking up weed, breaking up with my girlfriends and booking hookers.”
Other ads require a more finely honed bullshit detector. No one seemed to catch her out on her ad promising “free tickets to huge underground party” featuring “DJ Mannequin Hands” an offer of “free whiskey and goat’s milk” and “music that makes you throw up.”
One frantic DJ wanted to know if she was still hiring.
Some of the ads are meant to provoke moments of sanguine whimsy at people’s odd enthusiasms.
Her ad for a lighthouse keeper brought forth of a flood of enthused responses. Lighthouse lovers are apparently not in short supply.
The Craigslist public also has an oddly romantic reaction to the mention of longing and blueberry pancakes, and can’t seem to resist breathy film noir scenarios, even when its not clear what’s being advertised.
Allen’s other successful ads are just laugh out loud irreverent. Her screed of faux broken hearted hatred of everything from puppies to stupid hipster barristas paired with a sweet bouquet of tulips. Or her ad for a completely demolished junk-yard van as an “awesome ride that just needs some work.”
Giving the Internet a nurple to get your contemporary art kicks is hardly new, but Allen brings her own street level humour and in your faceness. Not quite the prank calls you made as a kid, but easily as fun.
