Kingsley Quigley stands on a podium in East Pilsen’s Rooms Gallery. She twirls. She jiggies. She shouts, “Let’s dance for the cause! Let’s save ‘em!” Her T-shirt reads “Save the Whales,” and she sports a curly fro and metallic blue spandex pants that would make Richard Simmons proud. Quigley is one of nine contenders in the gallery’s “Political Science Fair.” The exhibit, an Art District parody of the quintessential middle-school science fair, presents simple, colorful science projects as a means to solving some of the world’s most complex issues: politics, religion, racial stereotyping and, of course, the whales. The exhibit is the brainchild of curator Rebecca Pyles, who circles the gallery in a lab coat and a “Dr. Kitty” nametag. She hands out ballots, inviting guests to vote for their two favorite science projects. “It’s about how the world’s problems could be easily solved by children,” she says. The fair also exemplifies Rooms’ philosophy of audience/artist interaction. The gallery, which opened its doors in Pilsen five months ago, aims to make significant statements and break the fourth wall. “If this were a real science fair, I wouldn’t be doing well, since I didn’t cite my sources,” says contestant #4, Jeffery Rhodes. His project, “Candy, Coke and Conflict,” uses Mentos and soda to demonstrate the explosive severity of violence in Africa and the Middle East. Another contestant, the pig-tailed Cassandra Holland, displays four potted plants, which represent different healthcare programs. “This one,” she gestures to a shriveled specimen, “doesn’t have insurance, so it got fed Draino.” Contestant #7, Stephanie Schnorbus, recites a memorized speech likening the American media to the Water Cycle. Across the aisle, contestant #3, Dubi Kaufmann, mutters, “I don’t think I was interactive enough.” His project concerns the unconstitutional re-districting of Texas… using Legos. The winners are announced at the end of the night. Third place is awarded to Draino horticulturist Holland, and despite not being interactive enough, Kaufmann and his Legos take home second. Jeffery Rhodes and his caffeinated world conflicts win the grand prize. He jumps in excitement to the table and collects his little plastic trophy. All is not lost for the other contestants. A huge grin splits Quigley’s face as she approaches “Dr. Kitty” Pyles and proudly shows off the glittery ribbon pinned to her T-shirt. “I got participation!” Pyles nods and proclaims, “The real winners are the whales.” (Laura Hawbaker)
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