Who Cares was produced in 2004-05 by Ashford in collaboration with Creative Time’s staff. Its original purpose was to produce the series of private forums on public insurrection, ethics and beauty where artists, educators and theorists could openly discusses the erosion of sociality in American life and art. To this end, a series of conversations were organized around three topics: “Anyone in the World”, “Beauty and its Discontents”, and “War Culture.” Who Cares, the book of selected transcripts was published in 2006 with essays by Ashford and the director of Creative Time, Anne Pasternak. The issues brought up to direct a series of public works in New York City the following year.
Participants in the meetings were: Julie Ault, Gregg Bordowitz, Tania Bruguera, Paul Chan, Mel Chin, Dean Daderko, Peter Eleey, Coco Fusco, Chitra Ganesh, Deborah Grant, Hans Haacke, K8 Hardy, Sharon Hayes, Emily Jacir, Ronak Kapadia, Byron Kim, Steve Kurtz, Julian LaVerdiere, Lucy Lippard, Marlene McCarty, John Menick, Helen Molesworth, Anne Pasternak, Heather Peterson, Paul Pfeiffer, Patricia C. Phillips, Michael Rakowitz, Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas, Martha Rosler, Ralph Rugoff, Amy Sillman, Allison Smith, Kiki Smith, David Levi Strauss, Nato Thompson, The Yes Men and others.
Who Cares Project Page on Creative Time website
Letter to participants_(link)
Ashford’s Essay:Â Finding Cythera_(link)
Excerpts from the book:Â Who Cares_(link)