Irene Loughlin
Naufus Ramirez-Figueroa

Synthetic Happiness

With a special guest appearance by performance and media artist Archer Pechawis on opening night.

Happiness consists of two depression incubation tents and an Astroturf exercise area holding various exercise accoutrements. The performance artists pull themselves from their individual tents and set about their tasks of improving their mood and altering their bodies through exercise. The amount of enthusiasm conveyed through their body movements as they negotiate the equipment represents the immediate nature of their moods, and their ability or inability to muster the energy necessary to apply towards their exercise routines. At times, their energy levels rise as a result of caffeine, endorphins, or any other myriad of synthetic substitutions of happiness.