Assembly <br>Thing 000885

Plural media and various dimensions, 1992-

For Assembly (SURVIVAL KIT 4), Agency calls forth Thing 000885 (Daley Bicentennial Plaza) from its list, speculating on the question: “How can processes become included within art practices?”. Some artists tried to protect gardens with intellectual property (copyright). In order to qualify for copyright protection, a garden must be an original work of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression.

Thing 000885 (Daley Bicentennial Plaza) concerns a conflict between the painter Chapman Kelley and Chicago Park District about the gardens at Daley Bicentennial Plaza inside Grant Park in Chicago. Despite Chapman Kelley’s disapproval, the Park District altered Kelley’s existing garden entitled Wildflower Works I in oder to make it fit inside the new plan of Daley Bicentennial Plaza. During the case Kelley v. Chicago Park District the judge had to decide if the garden Wildflower Works I was a fixed work and protected by the Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA). 

Kobe Matthys asked Sampling to design Thing 000885 (Daley Bicentennial Plaza) and participated in the case.