Over Ruled (NO DANCING) by Cody Smith & Looking Up Arts from: San Francisco, CA year: 2023 A large red sign commands “NO DANCING” in big, bright letters, visible from afar. The provocation dares participants to defy with a boogie, shuffle, or strut, and perhaps even gather together into a sweaty, rhythmic rebellion. Ground mounted spotlights cast enlarged silhouettes of dancers up onto the letters, broadcasting the disobedience across the playa. Crowds thus magnify their energy, sending out ripples of mischievous joy, and luring in reinforcements. Approaching reveals smaller text on each letter, a true story of someone’s collision with a rule and the consequences: banishment, termination, expulsion, or incarceration. If the tincture of joy and grief give way to a desire for restorative justice, then Over Ruled’s goal is fulfilled. URL: https://lookingup.art/over-ruled Contact: over-ruled@lookingup.art
< Back to search results

Over Ruled (NO DANCING) by Cody Smith & Looking Up Arts

Photo by: Duncan Rawlinson

Year: 2023

Image Caption: 

Over Ruled (NO DANCING) by Cody Smith & Looking Up Arts from: San Francisco, CA year: 2023 A large red sign commands “NO DANCING” in big, bright letters, visible from afar. The provocation dares participants to defy with a boogie, shuffle, or strut, and perhaps even gather together into a sweaty, rhythmic rebellion. Ground mounted spotlights cast enlarged silhouettes of dancers up onto the letters, broadcasting the disobedience across the playa. Crowds thus magnify their energy, sending out ripples of mischievous joy, and luring in reinforcements. Approaching reveals smaller text on each letter, a true story of someone’s collision with a rule and the consequences: banishment, termination, expulsion, or incarceration. If the tincture of joy and grief give way to a desire for restorative justice, then Over Ruled’s goal is fulfilled. URL: https://lookingup.art/over-ruled Contact: [email protected]

Collections