Propaganda Hospitality Suite (Opening reception for The Experimental Party DisInformation Center) August 20, 2004

The Experimental Party DisInformation Center, presented by the US Department of Art & Technology, an immersive media installation subverting Republican propaganda, opens in New York City on Saturday, August 21st at LUXE Gallery, 24 West 57th St. An opening reception, the Propaganda Hospitality Suite, will take place from 6 ? 8 PM. The DisInformation Center runs through Saturday, September 4th, when it will close with the Post-Mortem Lounge from 6 ? 8 PM. Regular hours for the installation are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM - 6 PM.

Three years in the making, the installation is the culmination of a project started by US Department of Art & Technology Secretary Randall M. Packer in 2001 when he created a ?virtual government agency? as a critique of the role of the artist in society. ?Following 9/11, I called for recommendations on how Americans can by served by artists in order to be prepared for the consequences of a culturally divisive world,? says Secretary Packer. ?Now we are bringing our project examining political propaganda to New York City at this critical time right before the Republican National Convention. I call upon Department artists to carry out crucial acts of artistic mediation.?

Secretary Packer has collaborated with US DAT staff artists including: Mark Amerika, Jonah Brucker-Cohen, Jeff Gates, Jon Henry, Gregory T. Kuhn, Lynn Hershman, Andrew Nagy, and Wesley Smith. Additional works by Andy Deck, DJ Spooky and '47,' Trace Reddell, and Rick Silva are also included. Convention coverage will be provided by Alexander Provan and the Experimental News team.