Over the past year, I've had the pleasure of working with Jim Duignan as the inaugural artist-in-residence at the Rebuilding Exchange, which is something I'd been trying to establish since getting involved there over 2 years ago. Jim and I met over 10 years ago through AREA Chicago, and I first worked with him almost exactly 10 years ago doing a program called "How We Build" at the Hyde Park Art Center for his show Pedagogical Factory.

Jim has been planning an anniversary show of sorts, called PUBLIC SCHOOL, which opened a few weeks ago at HPAC and runs through June 25. Watching it come together during his time at Rebuilding Exchange, as well as helping out in big or small ways with figuring some of the pieces out, has been a great learning experience.

We were able to fabricate a number of things through RX Made, including a series of very simple yet elegant stools, and a large stage/table made of reclaimed gymnasium flooring. The flooring is one of many elements meant to evoke the familiar sensibilities of school buildings and childhood.

There are workshops and programming planned throughout the course of the show, some of which I will be helping organize and participating in.