By Greg Abazorius
Interdisciplinary designer and artist Francesco Stumpo ’14, ’15 recently brought together a diverse group to reflect on art created during the pandemic and how everyday actions can hold such profound meaning for others.
The “More Less Project: Remote Year” virtual event focused on figuring out how to handle a post-COVID-19 world, creating a space for community reflection and discussion about the things “we are thinking, feeling and understanding in the midst of the one-year mark of operating remotely,” according to Stumpo. Panel discussions brought together designers, artists and creative entrepreneurs, before an open discussion was held with the general public. The event took place over two nights, offered in English and Spanish.
“I thought about this initiative because many times we do not give ourselves the opportunity to take a break,” says Stumpo. “The time at home, the time gained from being in a space for a long time, has forced us to reduce the speed with which we do things, to gain time for reflection.”
Stumpo, who earned a Master of Architecture degree from Wentworth, created the More Less Project as a participatory public art initiative that invites people to slow down as they reflect on the things that hold meaning in their lives, as well as the effect they have on others.
“It’s important to continue gathering during these uncertain times,” he says. “This is an invitation to explore how art goes beyond the two-dimensional context and we use it to connect, generate community and create spaces for reflection.”
Follow Stumpo on Instagram: @AtelierStumpo
