Check Point

Chelsea Flowers

In May 2018 Wave Pool welcomed Detroit-based artist Chelsea Flowers, whose practice explores subversion to popular culture and how “otherness” is created, and social and cultural critique of her environment. She explores these ideas through comedic troupes, physical play, nostalgic memorabilia, and participatory performance. During her time in Cincinnati she sought to answer the question, “Can we build communities through Play?” She created a game that tests social, cultural, and emotional knowledge. By questioning “Did O.J. do it?” “What day did Beyonce turn Black?” “Can you walk like an Egyptian?” the game also wants to know if you can “list seven young men and/or women who were murdered by police in the past four years” As Flowers’ states, “A Player will be challenged in various means. The game asked them to be okay with not knowing an answer, and to feel even more comfortable with knowing how to ask for the answer. That’s the functionality of a community. We create our own communities based on what we share and how we care for one another. Participants were able to show their care through play (verbal discussion), dance (intellectual conversation with one’s body) and investigation (openness to learning).”