Soul Recovery Systems Artists Felicity Fenton & Michael T. Hensley present an “Emotional Garbage Disposal Service” at the Portland Building, September 13 – October 8, 2010

Project Description: In the spirit of public service, Portland artists Felicity Fenton and Michael T. Hensley have created Soul Recovery Systems (a.k.a. SRS), an interactive, creative and free emotional garbage disposal service that provides people with the opportunity to rid themselves of objects that hinder their lives. For four weeks beginning September 13th, SRS will be headquartered at the Portland Building Installation Space and will be accepting objects in any form as long as there are sincere emotional connections attached to them. All objects received by SRS must include an Object Release Form which lists the reasons for the desired disposal; once received, the objects and their reasons for disposal will be put under intense observation by SRS to determine the best possible method of release. In the end, a photograph of each object, its reasons for release, and actual video of the object release will be uploaded to the SRS digital landfill where the less burdened can view their once hindering objects in digital form.

Portland Building Installation: Since SRS is largely a digital-based project, the installation at the Portland Building will be utilized as an interpretive center as well as a public drop-off site for objects to be incorporated into the digital landfill. The installation will include a wall-sized SRS graphic, on top of which images of released objects and donor descriptions will be mounted. Videos from the SRS digital landfill will be looped on a LCD monitor and a depository box to receive released objects will be placed in the center of the space. FAQ sheets, Object Release Forms, SRS business cards and a comment book will also be available in the space.

SRS representatives Felicity Fenton and Michael T. Hensley will hold weekly office hours to encourage discourse and participation; objects and release videos will also be presented on the SRS website: www.soulrecoverysystems.com. The SRS goal is to interact with employees of the Portland Building, as well as visitors to the space, to provide a free, creative and therapeutic public service to the citizens of Portland.

Viewing hours: 7 am to 6 pm, Monday – Friday. The Portland Building is located at 1120 SW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland. Please also visit the SRS website at www.soulrecoverysystems.com.

For more information on the Portland Building Installation Series and a website that provides images, proposals and statements of all the installations featured since 1994, go to www.racc.org/installationspace.