Some weeks back, the little Gallery Patrizia Zewe hosted Munich’s first art- for-service swap. Artists traded their works (see picture) for services they could use, like a course in digital photography or a ride to Frankfurt. Many similar exchange projects exist – one of the latest that caught my attention is Clothing for Correspondence, a service by professional texters, who will write your fun correspondence in exchange for second hand clothes.
Just odd experiments? Well, most of the time, creativity has to be translated into an accepted currency before it pays the bill. This is what David Thorne learned, when he allegedly tried to pay his electricity bill with a spider doodle in 2008. Now a Brooklyn hospital finds that time is an acceptable currency, too, and that health care services can be paid with performances.
In May, the Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center in Brooklyn will launch the Artist Access program , which will allow artists to collect health care credits for a performance in the geriatric ward, for teaching drawing in the pediatric unit or for decorating the hospital interior with murals. Health care credits (40 credits per hour) can then be used to pay for fees incurred at Woodhull for health care services.
Transactions without money will become less exotic in the Gig Economy, I am sure of that. And, well, the reason I am shedding a light on this topic is that I am willing to exchange 5 of my doodle art envelopes for a decent sun hat.
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