The Free Pass Project – A Social Practice of Spontaneous Compassion and Conversation

Creatively enacting spontaneous compassion and conversation.

(PLEASE NOTE: this website is now an archive of a ten year public art project that engaged and made the day better for over 4,000 people. My full art and project site is www.rachelcyreneblackman.com.)"FREE PASS": two words that can communicate simple compassion. Who needs the grace of a free pass now and again? Almost everyone. Think about your day, and even the last few hours. Has there been a moment where you've given yourself a hard time or been in a frustration? Have you interacted with a loved one or stranger who is stressed, is doing the best they can, feels disengaged from … Read More...

Read Our Stories...

Shopping line…

“I was grocery shopping one afternoon and made a bee line for the shortest line. The couple ahead of me had a full to overflowing carriage and a screaming, red-faced 2 year old, clearly in need of a nap, which her mother kept calmly repeating, each utterance met with another wail from the child. I […]

My photo project…

I’m really loving the project. I’m looking for photo ops of things that can be interpreted as needing a free pass, so maybe folks will see the photos and go” I needed a free pass for that today as well. Today was “you know what, it’s okay not to make your bed every morning.” But […]

Free pass wishes…token # 947

A couple of guys that come into my bar for wings and beers, Ryan and Louis, passed the coin along to me, and within minutes, I won $40,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket. (That last part may be made up for the purpose of making my story more interesting) I have carried the coin in […]

Co worker….

“Last Friday I got angry at a coworker in accounting who declined twice to be helpful to me in my hour of personal need. She refused to verify my employment at the office or to reprint lost pay stubs for me when asked. I find my frustration stems from being powerless and having to ask […]