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...

Banking free pass…

“I gave one to a lady at the bank, but I gave it to her to use in case she had another customer like me….I had opened an account online, so there was no photo ID for me or signature on my account, so when I tried to withdraw money they asked for my driver’s […]

High school…

“I’d left a newspaper and bagged cookie on an outdoor cafe table to save the seat while I went back to get my coffee. When I came back, a woman and her teen age daughter were seated at the table. It wasn’t really clear that it was a ‘save my table’ centerpiece I’d left. She […]

Free pass for your worries…

I was on a neighborhood tour in Pittsburgh during the OE Conference. I had free passes in my pocket and met this box. “Ease your mind” art meets its art cousin. A few people got affection and support in an art to person art to person way.

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 […]