On Symptoms of Cultural Industry

An exhibition, public program, and publication researching the history of material and immaterial labor in the former industrial town of North Adams, Massachusetts.

Curated by James Voorhies

MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA
July 17–31, 2011

Open Engagement, Portland, OR
May 11–15, 2011

Made in collaboration with Timothy Nazzaro, Nate Padavick, Rachel Sherk, and Cassandra Troyan

Made possible with major support from MASS MoCA, a grant from Massachusetts Cultural Council, and support from Open Engagement/Portland State University; realized while I was working as an independent curator

Cities around the world function in the shadow of industrial infrastructure, factories that formally contributed to the economic well-being of a region. On Symptoms of Cultural Industry considered these circumstances as a departure point for research into the role of artistic and cultural production in relation to the changing economic, social, and physical situations in North Adams, Massachusetts—home to MASS MoCA.

Through performance, video, installation, and photography commissioned by me in collaboration with a number of individuals, On Symptoms of Cultural Industry studied the landscape of this former factory region to examine the social impact of cultural globalization. The research included looking at original archives and conducting interviews with former employees of Sprague Electric Company, the manufacturing industry now the site of MASS MoCA.

Book

Documentation MASS MoCA

Documentation Open Engagement

Timothy Nazzaro, Untitled, 2010, gelatin silver print, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist.

Opening night performance There is only light: (We do not know what to do with other worlds) by Cassandra Troyan as part of On Symptoms of Cultural Industry, a social and economic portrait of the history of North Adams, MA. Former Sprague employees and their families who participated in the work were in attendance.

Installation views, On Symptoms of Cultural Industry, MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA. 

Photographs by Timothy Nazzaro.

Videos of North Adams by Rachel Sherk.

Birds-eye, North Adams, MA, vintage postcard.

Publication designed by Nate Padavick with photographs by Timothy Nazzaro and text by James Voorhies, distributed free as part of exhibition. 

Projection of the performance There is only light: (We do not know what to do with other worlds) by Cassandra Troyan as part of On Symptoms of Cultural Industry. 

Reproduction of script for the performance There is only light: (We do not know what to do with other worlds) based on an oral history with former employees of Sprague Electric, now MASS MoCA. 

Timothy Nazzaro, Untitled, 2011, gelatin silver print, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist.

On Symptoms of Cultural Industry, 2011, 8.25 x 5 inches.