Interactive exhibition launching in downtown Denver on August 9, 2019 encourages visitors to step into a stranger’s shoes
The 2019 Biennial of the Americas Festival, in partnership with Riverfront Park Community Foundation, Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, and I Am Denver, will launch Empathy Museum’s “A Mile in My Shoes” exhibition on August 9, 2019 in Tail Tracks Plaza — on 16th Street between Wewatta Street and Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado.
This traveling, one-of-a-kind, participatory exhibition, conceived by British artist Clare Patey in collaboration with philosopher and author Roman Krznaric and produced by Artsadmin, allows participants to literally walk in someone else’s shoes while listening to a story about that person’s life.
Empathy Museum originated in the United Kingdom and has traveled throughout Europe and to Australia, Brazil, and Siberia. The “A Mile in My Shoes” exhibition was in New York City last year. In Denver, the exhibition will house between 30 and 40 pairs of shoes alongside audio recordings of stories from the shoes’ owners. Visitors are invited to walk a mile in the stranger’s shoes while listening to a story about that person’s life.
Said Empathy Museum director Clare Patey:
“Empathy Museum is a series of participatory art projects dedicated to helping us look at the world through other people’s eyes. With a focus on storytelling and dialogue, our traveling museum explores how empathy can not only transform our personal relationships, but also help tackle global challenges such as prejudice, conflict and inequality.”
The exhibition will be open through September 27, 2019, seven days a week, 10am-7pm, in Triangle Park.
On September 28, 2019, 4-10pm, a visual representation of the project will move to Civic Center Park where the Biennial of the Americas Festival culminates with a free family-friendly event, “Cosmico Americas.”
Said Erin Trapp, CEO and executive director of the Biennial of the Americas:
“The theme of the 2019 Biennial of the Americas Festival, ‘Empathy in Action,’ will showcase the people and ideas across North and South America that are moving beyond divisions to build solutions to important issues. Launching the ‘A Mile in My Shoes,’ exhibition in August provides a unique opportunity to think about and experience empathy as we lead up to the Festival.”
Following the Biennial of the Americas Festival, the stories will be housed on the I Am Denver website. The shoes and stories will form part of Empathy Museum’s growing collection, traveling the world along with nearly 300 other stories as part of the larger “A Mile in My Shoes” exhibition.
Visit Denver partners: Riverfront Park Community Foundation, Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, and I Am Denver.
The Biennial of the Americas (The Biennial) builds connections, creates community and inspires change across the Americas through a multi-day festival in Denver every other year and ongoing leadership summits in North and South America. Due to its location on the north-south axis, this Denver nonprofit organization launched in 2010 to enhance, celebrate and discover the cultural and economic connections between North and South America. The Biennial assembles the most innovative leaders in the western hemisphere to identify unique opportunities and solutions to our shared challenges. The 2019 Biennial of the Americas Festival takes place Sept. 25 through Sept. 28. For more information, visit www.biennialoftheamericas.org or engage with the Biennial on Facebook, Instagram (@thebiennial), or Twitter (@thebiennial).
Source: Stephanie H. Blake, Ph.D., APR, Blake Communications
