John Freyer

Fifty/Fifty, June 13-26, 2016

The expression Fifty/Fifty is universally understood as a gesture of fairness, sharing, and equality of risk and reward. It can also be interpreted as setting things in balance like the taoist Yin and Yang. Freyer's artistic practice engages accidental audiences, whether from an interaction with my mobile pourover coffee station serving “Recovery Roast” coffee, or stopping for a ice cold glass of water on hot days on the streets of Richmond, Doha or New York City. Initially, participants in Freyer's projects are unaware of their involvement in a social practice artwork. The vast majority of them appreciate the gesture of free hot coffee and free ice water and walk on by. But some of them need to know more, they ask: “Why is this here?”, “Who is responsible for this?” & “Why are they doing it?” They get snared into the flypaper strip that exemplifies Freyer's practice, which is strictly a “catch and release” phenomenon.

During Fifty/Fifty, John Freyer is using 1708 Gallery in two ways, first as a community facing storefront where the general public is invited to stop in for conversations over FIVE CENT COFFEE or FREE ICE WATER. The second use of 1708 will be as a working studio space for the design and build out of the RECOVERY ROAST pourover coffee cart, which will initially be installed disassembled in the workshop space at the start of the exhibition. The bike will be “assembled” during an all day event in the first week of the installation (see event schedule). The bike, coffee making equipment and a solar system for mobile power have been fully funded by our fiscal partners listed below. An important component of the RECOVERY ROAST Project is the custom roasted coffee that we serve. The flavor profile was determined by twenty student from VCU’s Ram in Recovery, at a coffee cupping event hosted by the Lamplighter Roasting Company.

FREE HOT SUPPER is the the third leg of Fifty/Fifty. It is the culmination of the intersection between the FREE ICE WATER performance event at the start of the 5X5 exhibition combined with the outreach component of the FIVE CENT COFFEE bike conversations. Participants in the first two projects are offered a token, good for one seat at a final night simple supper events. (Think midwestern church spaghetti dinner with better ingredients) Token holders give their tokens away to someone who belongs to a population affected by addiction. From persons in long term recovery, to a parent or loved one who is grieving the loss of a son, daughter or friend, to a stakeholder in local government or recovery resources. The custom tokens can be exchanged for a simple supper during our FREE HOT SUPPER event on June 24th at 5:30pm.

Detailed Schedule of Events

Tuesday June 14th, 5pm: FREE ICE WATER A conversation event for 30 people. After a brief introduction to the the project by Freyer, the audience is paired up for 45 minute distraction free conversations over mason jars of ice water. The completed jars will be installed in the storefront window for the duration of the show.

Thursday, June 16th, 6pm : Brew a Better Cup Noelle Archibald coowner of Lamplighter Roasting Co will lead a workshop demonstrating how to best brew coffee in multiple coffee making systems and with different roasts of coffee. This workshop will be open to the public but will be specifically targeted at the recovery community. Persons in recovery with coffee making service assignment will be encouraged to bring in the coffee equipment of their home groups for evaluation, service and brewing instructions. All participants will leave with a bag of Recovery Roast Coffee.

Friday, June 17: Full Day of Programs

   6am - Coffee Ride: 10 Mile Bike Ride starting at the VMFA and ending at 1708 Gallery for Recovery Roast Coffee and Early Bird Biscuits at 7:30AM

   9am to 3pm - Bike Building Demonstration: Wilson Hale, founder of the nonprofit Richmond Bicycle Studio will lead an assembly team to build out the Recovery Roast Coffee bike, complete with custom coffee equipment box.

   5:30pm to 6:30pm - Artists in Recovery Meeting/Conversation: Artists in Recovery Founder Amanda Stephan will be in conversation with members from her newly formed organization which provides studio access and workshops to people in recovery in partnership with the Visual Arts Center of Richmond.

Saturday, June 18: Full Day of Programs

   10am to 12pm - Coffee Cupping: Jenn Rawlings the Master Roaster and CoOwner of Lamplighter Roasting Co. will lead a workshop followed by an intensive training session for people who want to help serve coffee on the Recovery Roast Coffee Bike. Free and open to the public, thought space is limited Please pre-register!

   2pm - How to get to Work, when your only “Ride” is a Bicycle: Richmond Bicycle Studio will lead workshop specifically targeting those who have lost their driving privileges due to substance abuse. Topics will include bike safety and maintenance and learning how to navigate the bike friendly routes of the GRTC system. Bring your bike. Participants will leave with a safety and maintenance kit and GRTC bus pass. Free and open to the public, thought space is limited. Please pre-register!

Sunday, June 19th, 12noon: Inaugural Recovery Roast Bike Launch The professionally trained coffee brewers from Rams in Recovery will launch their newly built coffee bike and ride the bike to a number of recovery related sites in Richmond (People in recovery and their allies are encouraged to ride along with the RR Bike) The first stop will be at immediately around the corner from 1708 at the 1pm Sunday AA meeting at 210 Madison Street. The weekly meeting is an open meeting that is intended for anyone in need of help with their substance use/abuse. Numerous stops will be planned throughout the day.

Monday, June 20, 6:30pm: ANGEL Initiative Richmond Police Captain Michael Zohab leads an introduction to the ANGEL initiative in Richmond.

Wednesday, June 22, 5pm: Artists in Recovery Pin-up Show Reception

Thursday, June 23, 6:30pm: Family Education ProgramThe Family Education Program is a collaboration of local addiction service providers that offers free education to families and friends impacted by addiction. The group, which normally meets at 563 Southlake Blvd., meets weekly and is open to the public.

Friday, June 24: Full Day of Programs

   6AM - Coffee Ride: 15 Mile Bike Ride starting at the VMFA and ending at 1708 Gallery for Recovery Roast Coffee and Early Bird Biscuits

   5:30 FREE HOT SUPPER People are invited to join the FREE HOT SUPPER guest list by participating in programs throughout the week with the direct prompt to invite someone who belongs to or provides services for populations affected by addiction. The final event of the intervention is a public event where supper participants can choose to be in conversation with each other about their experiences.

Saturday, June 25 - RECOVERY ROAST COFFEE tour Freyer and RIR will visit various locations in and around 1708. Destinations will be a mix of popular Richmond destinations and places that are directly or indirectly related to to addiction and recovery resources.

Fifty/Fity is made possible by Tom Bannard, Wilson Hale, Jennifer Rawlings, Noelle Archibald, Amanda Stephen, Rosalind Watkins, JHW Foundation, VCUarts Pollak Society, VCU Division of Student Affairs, VCU Office of Sustainability, Richmond Bicycle Studio, Walkabout Outfitters, and Lamplighter Coffee Company