9/6/2013
Jonathan Horowitz
Messe Basel, Basel
Free Store is an outdoor market, open 24 hours a day, encouraging a free-flowing exchange of merchandise in which no cash need change hands.
Situated outdoors, alongside the exhibition halls, the project "Free Store," is just that: a space designated for the free flow of merchandise. Signage will invite visitors to "BRING STUFF IN THAT YOU CAN'T USE, TAKE STUFF AWAY THAT YOU CAN." The store will be open for the duration of the fair, free of charge, 24 hours a day.
The idea behind "Free Store" is to organically generate an alternate economy parallel to that of the art fair. No money will be involved in the running of the store, and beyond the simple directive of the signage, there will be no rules or regulations. The project seeks to engage a broad range of visitors, from local residents who might not come to the fair otherwise, to out-of-town fairgoers, who might never come to Basel otherwise.
And that's where you come in. To help stock the store, we are hoping that if you are:
A) A Basel overseas visitor, you can pack something extra in your suitcase.
B) A Basel exhibitor, you can fit something larger (furniture?) into your art shipment.
C) A Basel shipping company, you can bring some extra items in your trucks.
D) A Basel resident, we can take some unwanted items off your hands.
Anything that you think might be of use or interest to someone would be welcome: clothing, books, house wares, furnishings, art - absolutely anything. And you are of course welcome to take away anything you that you would like.
So, when you get to Basel, please bring your unwanted stuff to the Free Store, located at the entrance to Hall 1 on Isteinerstrasse.
http://www.freestorebasel.ch/
Messe Basel
Hall 1 on Isteinerstrasse