michele bosak projects

I AM: Money Matters examines the intersection of identity, labor, and economic systems, questioning how value is assigned to work, resources, and human lives. Featuring artists who explore capitalism, systemic inequities, and the personal impact of economic structures, this exhibition sheds light on the hidden forces that dictate financial realities. Through photography, video, installation, and participatory works, these artists challenge audiences to consider who benefits from economic power—and at whose expense. Sonya Clark's Hair Craft Project elevates Black hairdressing as an underrecognized form of artistry and entrepreneurship, highlighting the craftsmanship and economic structures embedded in personal care industries. Máximo González's Tengo Hambre makes visible the persistent issue of food insecurity, using fragile materials to reflect the overlooked and precarious nature of hunger. Wendy Kawabata's Grow in Light questions the commodification of nature, reflecting on the impact of industrialization and resource exploitation. Steve Lambert's Capitalism Works For Me: True/False engages viewers in a direct conversation about economic systems through an interactive voting board that exposes the complexities of capitalism's impact. Dan Tague's manipulated dollar bills uncover messages about politics and consumerism, while William Powhida critiques the art market's financial entanglements in Republications. Dennis Beaubois' The Division of Labor addresses the work's performative nature under capitalism. By hiring participants to maintain a forced smile for a full working day, he highlights the emotional labor demanded by economic necessity. The resulting video documents the strain, endurance, and gradual breakdown of the subjects, questioning the line between consent, exploitation, and survival in a system that dictates labor through circumstance rather than choice. Mel Chin's Operation Paydirt takes an activist approach, addressing the devastating economic and social impact of childhood lead poisoning. By collecting thousands of hand-drawn Fundred Dollar Bills from children and communities, the project seeks to equate public engagement with real economic value—demanding resources for environmental justice and lead abatement. As part of Money Matters, Chin collaborates with KCAD and local partners to bring Operation Paydirt: Grand Rapids to the community, offering a participatory model for grassroots economic activism. Together, these works expose the economic systems that shape everyday life—whether through labor, financial inequity, environmental injustice, or artistic production. I AM: Money Matters invites viewers to critically engage with these realities, considering the actual cost of capitalism and the potential for collective action to create change.