‘Truth Booth’ heading for West Palm in mid-October
Interactive attraction’s goal is to show diversity among world’s people.
WEST PALM BEACH — The Truth Booth is the next big thing.
First came the Musical Swings on Clematis Street, then the giant Spinning Tops on the Great Lawn. Now, on Oct. 13, 14 and 15, the Truth Booth’s nationwide tour stops in West Palm Beach.
The interactive art work is a 14-foot-high, inflated c artoon speech bubble with the word “TRUTH” in large letters. Inside is a video recording booth, where each participant spends up to two minutes completing the statement, “The truth is ....” A website will allow viewers to see the growing body of truths.
The project, also called “In Search of Truth,” was created by a group called Collective Cause and members Hank Willis Thomas, Ryan Alexiev, Jim Ricks and Will Sylvester. Their goal is to “represent and celebrate the world’s diverse people, culture and locations; and capture as many definitions, representations, confessions and thoughts on ‘the truth’ as possible.”
The booth will move around the city during its stay, from the plaza in front of City Hall, to a site near the historic Sunset Lounge and then to the waterfront Great Lawn, near the Saturday GreenMarket, said Sybille Welter, coordinator for West Palm Beach’s Art in Public Places program.
Welter, who also was instrumental in bringing the computerized Musical Swings and playful Spinning Tops to the city, said she hopes Truth Booth will “challenge the notion of what public art is and can do,” while encouraging the public “to (literally) insert themselves into the work to activate the work.
Not all public art needs to be fun — some can make you pause and think about where you stand, she said.
The project, which has traveled the world since 2011, is coming to West Palm Beach courtesy of a $5,000 contribution from the city, money and marketing from the Downtown Development Authority, participation of the Community Redevelopment Agency and a grant from the Knight Foundation.
The Truth Booth’s arrival less than a month from the presidential elections could add an interesting perspective to people’s comments, Welter said.
“The timing is perfect.”