Pacotilleuses in Miami
November 17th, 2008From November 30-December 10, I will be in Miami working on a project called Pacotilleuses with Emmanuelle Cherel (art historian), Georgia Nelson (artist), and Armand Morin (artist) from the Nantes School of Art. We’ll be working out of a van in different neighborhoods in Miami, doing experimental exchanges, performances, and interactions around notions of “merchandise.”
The term « pacotille » is historic, linked to maritime trade;
-Merchandise that does not pay freight, loaded and unloaded by the captain, the sailors and passengers with the goal of doing business through their own means.
- A variety of merchandise meant for exchange, overseas and international trade.
- Large quantities of varied, inferior quality and cheap merchandise.
- The sellers from the Antilles as described by P. Chamoiseau (1), would after docking in Miami exchange their stories and experiences encouraging an individual and collective narration.
