When a group of eight artists, led by Michael Townsend, decided to live in secret apartments within the walls of Providence Place Mall in Rhode Island back in 2003, it was considered an audacious act. The mall was bustling with people and activity at that time.
It's not hard to see why they were able to avoid detection for so long - a combination of creativity, resourcefulness, and a dash of reckless abandon likely played key roles. With the help of extension cords and a waffle iron, Townsend and his coconspirators managed to transform underutilized space into their own personal hangouts. The final result was a makeshift living space that looked more like a sitcom set than anything resembling an abandoned mall.
This remarkable story has now been brought to life in a documentary titled "Secret Mall Apartment". Directed by Jeremy Workman and produced by Jesse Eisenberg, the film chronicles the extraordinary true events surrounding Townsend's subversive art project.
Townsend is a tape art artist who teaches kids how to create art and was part of creating memorials for 9/11 in New York City, among other projects. His actions were driven by an artistic vision that critiqued gentrification and the fantasies of consumerism. The secret apartment serves as a form of commentary on urban development and capitalism.
In the documentary, we see the development of the space over time, as well as reenactments of scenes from their lives in the mall. Townsend's own perspective is that this was an act of performance art - however, it also carries themes of resistance and absurdity.
The punishment that Townsend received after getting caught was a banishment from the mall, which has remained in place for 17 years. This serves as a poignant commentary on the consequences of actions that challenge societal norms and expectations.
"Secret Mall Apartment" is now available to stream on Netflix, offering viewers a unique glimpse into an extraordinary episode in art history.
It's not hard to see why they were able to avoid detection for so long - a combination of creativity, resourcefulness, and a dash of reckless abandon likely played key roles. With the help of extension cords and a waffle iron, Townsend and his coconspirators managed to transform underutilized space into their own personal hangouts. The final result was a makeshift living space that looked more like a sitcom set than anything resembling an abandoned mall.
This remarkable story has now been brought to life in a documentary titled "Secret Mall Apartment". Directed by Jeremy Workman and produced by Jesse Eisenberg, the film chronicles the extraordinary true events surrounding Townsend's subversive art project.
Townsend is a tape art artist who teaches kids how to create art and was part of creating memorials for 9/11 in New York City, among other projects. His actions were driven by an artistic vision that critiqued gentrification and the fantasies of consumerism. The secret apartment serves as a form of commentary on urban development and capitalism.
In the documentary, we see the development of the space over time, as well as reenactments of scenes from their lives in the mall. Townsend's own perspective is that this was an act of performance art - however, it also carries themes of resistance and absurdity.
The punishment that Townsend received after getting caught was a banishment from the mall, which has remained in place for 17 years. This serves as a poignant commentary on the consequences of actions that challenge societal norms and expectations.
"Secret Mall Apartment" is now available to stream on Netflix, offering viewers a unique glimpse into an extraordinary episode in art history.
... it's wild to think about how some people are willing to take risks for the sake of their art 
. I mean, I get it, it was a creative way to critique gentrification and consumerism, but 17 years is a long time to be banned from a mall 
. It just goes to show that sometimes you've got to push boundaries and challenge societal norms to make an impact 
. But at the same time, I don't know if it's right to punish someone for doing something just because they're not playing by the rules 
. Anyway, I'm curious to check out this documentary now... 
Can you even imagine living in a secret apartment within a mall? 
I mean, it's not like they just stumbled upon some hidden gem, but rather, it was this bold statement about consumerism and gentrification. Michael Townsend's vision was so radical that people thought he was crazy... and honestly, who can blame him for wanting to challenge the status quo? 
The fact that he got banned from the mall is wild, though - 17 years is a pretty harsh punishment 
. I'm definitely checking out this documentary now, thanks for the rec! 
. Like, who does that?! Creating a secret apartment in a mall? It's like something out of a movie! I mean, I guess it's cool that Michael Townsend was trying to make a statement about gentrification and consumerism, but 17 years is a long time to be banned from the mall 
It's like a real-life episode of "Storage Wars"! But seriously, it's a fascinating story that raises some interesting questions about art, resistance, and the power of absurdity 
the idea of him using art as a way to comment on gentrification and consumerism is actually pretty thought-provoking. It's like, he was literally living in the mall, surrounded by all that commerce and stuff, and just decided to turn it into this weird little world of his own. 
I'm kinda curious to see what the documentary is like - has anyone seen it?
! I mean, who wouldn't wanna know about the secret apartment inside Providence Place Mall? 
It's like something out of a movie, right? And Townsend's story is so inspiring - using his art to speak out against gentrification and consumerism? 
Genius! The fact that he was able to create this whole space with nothing but extension cords & a waffle iron? 
Mind blown! I love how the doc explores the themes of resistance, absurdity, and performance art - it's like, what even is art anymore? 
Anyway, I'm definitely checking out "Secret Mall Apartment" on Netflix now. Can't wait to see it for myself 
. And can we talk about the creativity and resourcefulness that went into making this space? I mean, extension cords and a waffle iron? 
. I'm so stoked that we get to see this story come to life in "Secret Mall Apartment" on Netflix. It's like a masterclass in art and rebellion 
. I don't get why people are making such a big deal about Michael Townsend's little stunt. It's not like he was curing cancer or anything! And 17 years without being allowed back into the mall? That's just ridiculous 
. I mean, if you're gonna live in a mall, own it! Don't pretend it's some deep commentary on urban development 
. A 17-year ban from the mall seems harsh, especially considering his intentions were to spark a conversation about consumerism. On the other hand, I can appreciate his artistic vision and the importance of taking risks in challenging societal norms.
. It's crazy that his art project was seen as subversive enough to warrant 17-year banishment from the mall 
. Anyways, I'm low-key excited to check out this docu on Netflix - anyone else heard about it? 
When you think about the audacity of Michael Townsend's stunt, it's no wonder he managed to fly under the radar for so long! The fact that a waffle iron played a crucial role in his secret space is just 
. And I love that it was all about critiquing the consumerist culture and gentrification - really thought-provoking stuff. The fact that Michael Townsend has been banned from the mall for 17 years just goes to show how often our actions can be misinterpreted or misunderstood 
. Anyway, I'm definitely checking out this documentary on Netflix – thanks for the rec! 