By Gabriella Di Piazza for the Fun Committee; photos by Rod Morrison
From November 2023 through March 2024, the Fun Committee installed an exhibit in the Coop entryway and at the 2nd-floor landing celebrating our 50th anniversary. Vintage video clips ran on a loop and archival materials, photos and factoids spanning our five decades were showcased. In true cooperative form, the exhibition was interactive and participatory, relying on members to share feedback, anecdotes and additional history.
The exhibit detailed a timeline of major occurrences at the Coop, from our opening in February 1973 to digitizing the workslot system in 2021. The exhibition was organized into several sections. “Our Spaces” described the opening and expansion of our physical space and asked our members to share changes they’ve noticed since joining. “People and Membership” and “Food” detailed membership growth and expansion of food offerings through the years. “Past and Future” reflected on bygone traditions and posed member projections for the Coop’s next 50 years. “Our Culture” highlighted how the Coop grew out of America’s counterculture movement and its insistence on inclusive and democratic values, and “Fun Committee” recalled community-building events throughout the decades. Other sections featured “Love and Connection,” “Our Impact,” “Labor and Staff” and “Times of Crisis.” For each category, questions and prompts provided a community-building exercise that inspired members to recall and contribute to our collective history.
The Fun Committee thanks everyone who took a moment to engage with the exhibition and those who were key in its planning, development and installation. We are currently exploring how to archive the exhibition and keep the dialogue alive online.
Interested in finding out more about the Fun Committee? Reach out at psfcfun@gmail.com.