Imagine a large-scale, 30 by 40-feet inflatable, interactive sculpture shaped like the Pentagon and the Washington Monument in the middle of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Esplanade Park
On Saturday, Sept. 28, an original and custom-designed sculpture, which is reminiscent of a kids’ birthday party bounce-house, invites adults to play and have fun while getting them energized to vote in the 2024 election.
The Unity House Art Activation was designed by RW BaBs (an acronym for Red, White, Black and Blue state), a self-described social engagement artist based in Florida who creates anonymously. The activation is designed to combine a public art installation with a non-partisan voter registration initiative and was done in collaboration with Rock the Vote, a non profit dedicated to registering new voters.
“Not voting is a vote,” says RW BaBs, whose preferred pronoun is they and who also says they must remain anonymous for privacy reasons and as a way to let the “art speak for itself.”
“We participate in consumer culture to create playful installations and art activations to investigate the dynamics between social and political involvement and the distribution of power and influence in the U.S.,” says the artist.
In 2023, they received The Broward Cultural Division’s Artist Innovation Grant in partnership with The Community Foundation of Broward in the amount of $10,000 to realize the Unity House project, which is curated by Pompano Beach-based independent art curator, Lisa Rockford.
“We are thrilled to receive the grant from the Broward Cultural Division,” says Rockford. “The work of RW BaBs is original and I’m always interested in work with a social, cultural or political point of view.”
Indeed, like the Dadaists and Surrealists of their time, the work of RW BaBs is influenced by a movement known as “social practice art,” which uses social engagement as a part of its aesthetic and as a catalyst to create social or political change.
Their original, five-sided inflatable sculpture can accommodate up to 21 people at a time.
Designed to be visually engaging and playful, and to bring people together, the sculpture is decorated with red, white and blue stars and stripes, symbols of American patriotism and flowers, rainbows and a kinetic bubble ball dome.
Equally passionate about equality, bridging the cultural divide, resisting tyranny, thwarting indifference, being colorful and having a sense of humor, the artist wants to know: “Will adults get past the notion that bounce houses are only for kids, and allow themselves to play?”
As visitors enter through the mouth of a fantastical creature, participants, who must be over the age of 18, will be presented with a survey and the option to register to vote.
Newly registered voters will receive a limited-edition artwork (a custom designed embroidered metallic pin) that says “Empowered to vote.”
Once inside, they will navigate an obstacle course, representing a “unity knot,” or, symbol of interconnectedness and community.
There is a 15-foot climbing tower, or obelisk, similar to the Washington Monument, symbolizing power, in the center and a slide ramp to exit.
“We hope our work fosters positive associations with patriotism and civic responsibility and involvement, as well as lightens things up,” says the artist.
Véronique Côté, director of the University Galleries at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, where RW BaBs works will appear as part of a group show, titled, “Political Circus 2024,” says that “RW BaBs takes a social, political and cultural look at American patriotic impulses as a way to engage audiences and stimulate civic discourse.”
The show, which runs from Oct. 6 through the end of November, showcases RW BaBs series of 3 by 4 feet wide diamond paintings, titled, “Seeing Red 01.06.2021,” created after the events at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and a collection of election ephemera by FAU professor Jane Caputi, and others.
Not resting on their laurels, the artist plans to expand the dialogue around voting rights and democracy and is planning their next installation – an inflatable model of the U.S. Capitol Building — on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. ahead of the November elections.
“We want to encourage visitors to consider their own relationship and agency to symbols of power, and consider how these symbols may impact their rights as voters,” says RW BaBs. .
While politics are serious fare, the artist wants their audience to know that taking part in Democracy can have levity, too.
“We hope that you will join us for unpredictable moments and add to the joy, laughter, and sharing of enjoyable physical activity between strangers from different walks of life playing together,” they say.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “The Unity House Art Activation: Participatory Sculpture and Voter Registration Event
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WHERE: Esplanade Park, 400 SW 2nd St., Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28.
TICKETS: Free
INFORMATION: Call (954) 524-4736 or
@rw_babs
