Andrew and Andrea

Released in 1969 against the historical backdrop of social unrest, the Vietnam War, the collapse of the student movement and the failure of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, Peggy Lee’s Grammy Award winning rendition of Lieber and Stoller’s Is That All There Is, can be interpreted as an anthem to the malaise and apathy that has come to define the post-modern condition. The song, based on Thomas Mann’s 1864 short story entitled Disillusionment describes feelings of increased detachment and cynicism in the face of often traumatic events. Seizing upon the obvious historical parallels to our contemporary situation vis a vis the War in Iraq and the triumph of consumerism over community, we have revived and repurposed the songs lyrical content, as a means of whimsically engaging the psychological and physical space of “the city”, through the ubiquitous icons of the contemporary urban/suburban environment. Furthermore, the piece, is intended to engage its audience in debate concerning the visual environment of everyday urban space(s)including virtual space and the nature of public art.Funding for this project was generously provided by The Ontario Arts Council