Schemers, Scammers, and Subverters Symposium (2019)

Public project funded by the Precipice Grant, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and Calligram Foundation, collaboration with Ralph Pugay, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Portland, OR

Schemers, Scammers, and Subverters Symposium (SSSS) was a free one-day symposium that explored the many ways in which schemy and scammy behaviors influence the way we live life in a capitalist society. Organized as a send-up of traditional business conferences, SSSS hosted panel talks and lectures that unpacked different ways in which flimflammery pervades our culture by way of different motivations. SSSS served as a hub for conversation, education, and awareness on relevant topics which were delivered by presenters from diverse perspectives and walks of life. Presenters throughout the day addressed ways in which people become victims, witnesses, and perpetrators in the manifestation of deceitful and undermining behavior, and they shed light on instances where scheming can be useful.

Presentations included:

• Schemes, the American Dream, & the Kardashian’s by Lauren Prado

• Risky Business - Good Decision Making When The Outcomes Are Uncertain
  by Steve Bleiler

• Boned: Survival and the Sexual Revolution by Philip King

• Is Higher Education a Scam? Moderated by Roz Crews

• Real Fake Artistry by manuel arturo abreu

• Strategies for Post-Digital Subversion by Alden Jones

• How to Know When Your Horoscope is Being Real: an interview with Renee Sills

• Museums, how they serve us and harm us with Libby Werbel and Roz Crews

• Defensive Housing with the Office of Neighborship with Eric Olson and Zeph Fishlyn

The Totally Honest Barter Bazaar took place as part of the project in the adjacent conference room, and it showcased one-of-a-kind/original/legit products and services where both vendors and consumers were encouraged to be creative/self-determine/negotiate the value of what is on sale through experimental or traditional forms of exchange (currency or otherwise).

Vendors included:

• The Living School of Art

• Phone Session with Malia Jensen

• Mis Tacones

• Official Merchandise Booth by Daniel Rolnik

• PLNT DD (Shawn Creeden)

• Well Made Toy's Co. (an artist project by Elijah Turner-Nelson and Artist Michael Bernard Stevenson Jr. with support from Carlos and Kaylahni)

• Underfoot Vintage & Stuff From Costa Rica (Marci Branagan & Lori Gilbert)

• KEYCHAIN: When trust counts (Sandy Sampson & Francesca Frattaroli)

• Just the Fax by Sam Peters

• Buckwildpegasus (Matt Leavitt)

• 100% RECEIPTS (Intuitive Writing) by Morgan Ritter

• DJ Fiësto

The event was organized by myself and artist Ralph Pugay, and it took place in the Windsor A and B conference rooms of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Portland, OR on Saturday February 23rd from 9:30am to 6pm. It was funded by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Calligram Foundation, and the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Special thanks to Jodie Cavalier from the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art for helping us secure the donated location.

http://schemersscammers.club/