Urbana-based conceptual artist Sarah Ross explores the possibilities of artistic and social intervention offered by laziness with her recent installation piece of “contestational furniture,” InAction. Inspired by writings like “The Right to Laziness,” by Marx’s son-in-law Paul LaFarge, and echoing the call by contemporary theorist Slavoj Zizek to seek a form of politics inspired by Bartleby’s phrase “I would prefer not to,” Ross has developed “InAction Units,” backpack-size bright red mobile laziness modules, which unpack to form a sleeping pad and pillow. On Saturday 10/18 from 2 PM-5 PM, those interested can meet up with Ross at Northwestern University’s Dittmar Memorial Gallery to practice “InAction” and use the InAction units to commit public acts of idleness on the streets of Evanston.
