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Why is Art like an alligator?
An interrogation by Burning Books

Towards the end of 2020 Matthew and Jerry of Axle Contemporary became fascinated with Google Forms and JotForm, and other online form and survey software. They were using a form to collect photo release permissions, but soon realized that the possibilities were much more expansive that that. Had they discovered an emerging online new-media artform that nobody else had noticed? They put together a “survey” that began as an earnest ten-year evaluation of the organization, but soon degraded into the ridiculous. They sent out the link and many people responded. It was beautiful, silly, meaningful, and joyous.

Now for Axle Contemporary’s contribution to CURRENTS 2021, we have a new online-new-media “survey,” sprung forth from the minds of Burning Books (Michael Sumner and Melody Sumner Carnahan). We are honored and proud to present this collaboration from the artists who pioneered the survey as artform with their 1979 book The Form: 1970-1979

During 1978 and 1979 Melody Sumner Carnahan sent out over 100 copies of the blank form with a brief note to friends, family, and artists she admired. Nearly everyone responded without knowing what, if anything, would be done with the completed forms. The result was this unique book containing 100 of the filled-out forms. Learn more about The Form: 1970-1979 here: https://www.burningbooks.org/the-form/category/5.html .

WHY IS ART LIKE AN ALLIGATOR? An Interrogation by Burning Books will go live at www.axleart.com on June 18, the opening day of CURRENTS and responses will be collected through the end of the festival on June 27. Survey results will be released later in the year.