“What is this art about?”
The Free Pass Project is an interactive, person to person, way to socially engage with active and spontaneous compassion. By giving, receiving, finding or leaving a a handmade Free Pass token, it is a way to extend understanding, compassion, temporary respite or resolution for yourself, someone you know, or a complete stranger. The second part is working towards gathering people’s stories and instances of how, why or where a free pass was exchanged. Get one, pass it on and share your story… through this website, the Facebook page, or @FreePassStory, on Twitter.
Posting might include a picture or story of where you randomly left, or who you gave a Free Pass to. Or you may be a recipient, or finder of a Free Pass token. On the back of each token is a tracking number. Hopefully, overtime, we’ll be able to connect multiple stories and travels involved with a token. Participant stories…
By documenting a community narrative we may come to find the sort of stresses and generosities we share. We can also learn about unique challenges for people and keep learning. As this develops I hope there is interactivity via Twitter and the website where participants can positively engage with a complete stranger in compassion, humor and creative participation in community.
Many, many, Free Pass stories are not documented. People have kept Free Passes, or choose not to publicly share the meaning and exchange of a Free Pass token. That is perfect, too.
“Why would I do this?”
In short, because it makes you and someone else feel good. Compassion builds healthy communities. (Trust me!) A free pass token is simply an object to prompt and spark the opportunity to communicate about a small shared experience. These connections of understanding are small moments, that over the long term build a positive community.
For example, if you’re in line at the store texting or chatting that you forgot to get apples, you are missing out on a moment to notice the people around you, and how they’re doing. There might be a stressed out parent with a tired toddler, or a cashier who just dealt with a crabby customer, or you yourself might have some small foible. Step out of your comfort zone, and hand them a free pass. More personally you might ask your partner, a friend or your boss for a free pass from an interaction or expectation – have a free pass token on hand and extend it for your own need.
This is a really, really good article on the benefits of ‘unstucking’ ourselves from the small risk of connection. It is a helpful 90 second read for some context for the creative public engagement of the FPP.
Even randomly dropping a free pass token in a shop, or on the street, makes two people feel better. You’ve engaged in a small adventure and something out of the ordinary in your day. The same will be true for the person who finds it. The smallest event can distract someone from a worry.
“How do I go about this?”
There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to free pass. Be brave. Trust the reward of gesture and conversation that might feel like a social risk.
During the course of the Project participants to date have made ‘free pass’ a verb. So things like, “I free passed a waiter”, or “I went free passing today” have shown up on the Facebook page.
Frequently a free pass opportunity just starts with a simple question, or statement, and you take it from there. Most people recognize it as an opportunity for grace and respite. You are then able to simply say, and offer, an actual object as a free pass! The creative score card and feedback to date is 90% positive in that two people have been ‘seen’/acknowledged through creative engagement.
In my own randomly ‘free passing’ of approximately 50 strangers only two people have absolutely showed no interest. Some don’t ‘get’ the concept, but still say, ‘thanks for my free pass’, some just have curiosity and wander away, and others lock right in and simply beam.
Other people keep a free pass token or two in their pocket. When a situation arises they hand over a free pass. This has happened with a distracted waiter, in gratitude to a friend for support, and in a boyfriend dispute to set aside until later. Some folks simply keep them in their pocket or on a desk for their own personal reminder they are doing the best they can.
For your own mindfulness, curiosity and engagement, you can observe a person who finds and picks up a random token drop you just did.
You can also contact me through the page with any question or comment about the Free Pass Project.
“What is up with Free Pass tokens?”
Free Pass tokens are handmade/assembled as part of the art, and goodwill of this art. Each one is slightly unique as a little, funky, treasure to share and pass from one person to the next. The base object is a re-purposed, vintage, poker chip. Paper is applied with a water soluble adhesive, and an outer coating for longevity as tokens are in circulation. Free Pass tokens do not harm the environment – reusing plastic is a good thing.
“Where do I get Free Pass tokens?”
At this time, (2015) contact me about getting some Free Pass tokens for you to initiate this creative goodwill and understanding in your community. Drop a line via this page or
Facebook. Twitter (@FreePassStory) at times has leads where token jars have been placed.
To date, over 1,500 tokens have been sent to over 14 states since launching the Art in January 2014.
“Why is the Free Pass Project called a project?”
The original, and still true, reason is that all of us are collaborators on this creative, community, adventure. It is an active and fluid, potentially long term, social practice experiment. For folks who are participating, it is your art project. Also, there are many avenues and ways to collaborate, now, and in the future.
“Where did the Free Pass Project start?”
I am the lead artist, and am based in New England. The entire idea of this as a community art project, and the first draft launch, happened in about a week in January of 2014. During the early part of the year hundreds of Free Pass tokens were sent out to ‘free pass ambassadors’ to get started in their communities. Tokens are in at least 14 states, to date.
Some photos to date are on the Facebook page. Take some time to scroll through Posts to Page, and the page feed. Other stories recounted by you are on the site, here.
As the lead artist I am still involved in making Free Pass tokens in community gatherings, distributing them, participating as a ‘free passer’, and the slow build of social media participation. I’m also working towards collaborations with community organizations, other artists, scientists and educators.
I hope you have fun, and keep in touch. Be an artist. Change the world.
Rachel Cyrene Blackman