Past
It’s the Political Economy, Stupid
Contemporary Art Center of Thessaloniki, Greece
(Warehouse B1 Thessaloniki port area)
June 27th – September 30th, 2012

Contradictions:
Maureen Connor & The Institute for Wishful Thinking
May 31 – July 28th, 2012
Akbank Sanat
İstiklal Cad. No:8 34435 Beyoğlu-İstanbul
Turkey
Curator: Hasan Bülent Kahraman
It’s the Political Economy, Stupid
Curated by Gregory Sholette and Oliver Ressler
January 24 – April 22, 2012
Opening Reception: Mon. Jan 23, 6 – 8 PM
IWT has responded to the latest economic disaster by collectively re-envisioning an iconic image from the last fiscal crisis. In the mid-1970s the United States federal government initially refused to assist a then bankrupt New York City until austerity measures were put in place severely curbing spending on public schools, hospitals, libraries, and public transportation. Many see President Gerald Ford’s decision as a punishing, first step towards the adoption of neoliberalism, the radically deregulated economic model responsible for the global financial meltdown of 2008. Wishing artists and policy makers more, rather than less wishful historical thinking, IWT’s Agents offer Post-Fordist Variations, a suite of substitute mementos based on the infamous October 25th, 1975 New York Daily Newsheadline: “Ford to City: Drop Dead.” More

Modeling Alternatives: Art and Social Change
A Series of Discussions, Screenings and Presentations at Momenta Art
With this series we hoped to further the possibilities for artists to participate in the development of social policy. Artists, art historians, museum professionals, academics, policy experts and government officials will consider how the art making process can contribute to social change as well as encourage elected officials, community leaders and the general public to think of artists as potential partners in a variety of circumstances. More

Periferic 8 – Art as Gift Biennial for Contemporary Art
Periferic 8 adopted an ambitiously self-critical approach to the now well-established view that international biennials contribute significantly to the meaning and value of the work they support. As with most large international exhibitions, however, the work of the support staff, which worked long hours for low pay, was not to be factored in as part of the value thus created, despite the fact that their efforts were essential to the completion of the work exhibited. More

Peace Pentagon – A Call for Action
An Architectural Competition for saving the Peace Pentagon in lower Manhattan. A collaborative project proposal was submitted for panel review December 2009, and selected as one of three first-prize winners in the competition. More


As self-declared Artists in Residence for the US Government, the Institute for Wishful Thinking (IWT) believes that the community of artists and designers possesses untapped creative and conceptual resources that could be applied to solving social problems.