In 2003, a group of artists in Rhode Island snuck inside the thriving but contentious Providence Place Mall and for the next four years lived in a hidden art space that they created on the sly. Documented at the time on lo-res video, this testament to youthful ingenuity incorporates original footage and present day interviews with the construction of both a miniature of Providence Place Mall and full-scale replica of the apartment in question to create an amusing argument for art as lifestyle, above all commodity.
“SECRET MALL APARTMENT shines the light on the kind of art — and the kinds of artists — who work beyond the limelight, pushing both the law and the very definition of ‘art’ itself to their limits.” —Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, AWFJ.org “Far more than just a wild prank, the secret apartment became a deeply meaningful place for its inhabitants. It was a personal expression of defiance against local gentrification, a boundary-pushing work of public/private art, a clubhouse in which large-scale charitable art projects were planned, and, finally, a 750 square-foot ‘F you’ to The Man… Director Jeremy Workman delivers a poignant exploration of artists who discovered their purpose within the most commercial and improbable places.” —Carla Renata, The Curvy Film Critic “Like any fascinating meditation on the meaning of art and its potential as a political force, Workman’s doc asks more questions than it answers, which is a very good thing.” —Susan G. Cole, POV Magazine
