For this action, we created 100 ëks and 20 envelopes that were distributed by us to Forum goers (click here to learn more about eks). When someone was recognized as being proactive in their participation to the conference (and the larger city of Detroit) (e.g. asking a question at a presentation, maintaining a community garden) they were given an envelope with 5 ëks inside. The outside of the enveope will act as a record of the holders of the envelope and reciever of a Note. Recipients were instructed to pass the envelope along to another they come across that they feel has also made a contribution. The fifth and final reciever of the envelope will be asked to mail the envelope/record back to us which we will display as a record of the social exchanges/recognitions that took place during the Forum and city of Detroit. We photographed recievers with their envelope as the beginning of an archive to display alongside the envelopes that they once possessed.

With this action, we are highlighting the value that is inherent in simple social exchanges, using the common format of a note (bill, dollar, check, etc) that generally values objects and the selling of our knowledge/labor/time. This encourages and activates the value of social interactions that may have not occured otherwise, challenging the creation of value on a person to person basis.

In her book “Payback- Debt and the Shadow side of Wealth”, Margaret Attwood explores the concept of debt as a human construct. She writes:

"In order for a mental construct such as "debt" to exist- you owe me something that will balance the books once it is transferred to me- there are some preconditions. One of them, as I've said, is the notion of fairness. Attached to that is the notion of equivalent values: what does it take to make both sides of the mental score sheet or grudge tally or double-entry bookkeeping program we're all constantly running add up to the same thing? If Johnny has three apples and Suzie has a pencil, is one apple for one pencil and acceptable exchange or will there be an apple or pencil remaining to be paid? That all depends on what values Johnny and Suzie place on their respective trading items, which in turn depend on how hungry and/or in need of communication devices they may be."

Acts of Ecks-Change creates market for and implies a need for acts of cultural significance. By creating a system of exchange targeting cultural providers, we question why such actions are undervalued within our current society and monitory system. This addresses the issues of agency, expression, community and belonging (for real life examples of these terms, see the record of ecks given out) that the traditional monitory exchange system has failed to address. Just as Suzies hunger may influence the rate at which she will trade her pencils, we feel the nation is hungry for acts of cultural providers that can respond to communal issues. This is not a physical hunger, which is blatant to detect, but a creeping void. The market has yet to address this need, as its very fulfillment is a threat to the spectacle that it profits from.

Mass culture is used as a tool to promote and expand the market, and is thus commodified, homogenized, and numbing. Acts of exchange attempts to promote cultural producers, while calling into question our notions of value, and how that plays into our human "needs".


::the following denotes the text that will be included on the envelope containing the ëks notes::

You are being presented with an ëks note in recognition of your significant contribution to the 2010 Detroit U.S. Social forum. In a greater sense, you are being recognized for producing acts that do not have established valuation systems by nationally instituted currency systems.The ëks note is an alternatively organized economic system established by the Floating Lab Collective that is based on community empowerment. Please keep this note as a receipt of your worthwhile energy. You now have the power to continue this process of independent valuation by passing an ëks note along to another individual whose energy you deem worthy of recognition. Take a look around you and make note of activity that you consider deserving of acknowledgement.These moments may be as intimate as a thoughtfully posedquestion or as large scale as a group performance: it is your decision to make.

Directions:
•Once you have made your decision, please describe the recipients' honorable activity in the spaces provided on the back of the envelope. Write your description in the numbered space that corresponds with the order in which you received the note.
•Present the ëks note to the recipient. It is for them to keep.
•Present the envelope of remaining ëks notes to the recipient and explain their opportunity to continue the process of independent valuation.
•There are five opportunities for exchange: we ask the fifth recipient to mail the completed pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope.
•if you are not the fifth and final recipient but do not wish to continue the cycle, we ask that you please explain your decision in one of the spaces on the envelope and to please mail the packet.

::Detroit ëks Exchange Records::
These ëks were given out at the "Cash for Culture" booth we created for the Social Forum. People could be "paid" for past actions, or ask for a loan for future acts of cultural significance.

[+] Zaccai - 10 ëks.
[+] Jake- 2 ëks for oil spill activism.
[+] Khris- 35 ëks for “Milk Bottle Collective”, where local writing is delivered via milk bottles to community doorsteps.
[+] Melinda- 12 ëks for critical advise on project.
[+] Spenser and Sergio- 5 ëks each for actions with civilian soldier alliance.
[+] Therese- 1 ëk for writing on arts education.
[+] Chris- 23 ëks for community bike co-op and pot luck.
[+] Peter- 30 ëks for Veterans for Peace
[+] Lexus
         Anna
         Breanna
         Evelyn - 6 ëks each for work with “Peoples Community Services”
[+] Sean- 2 ëks for Graffiti artwork.
[+] Hunter- 6 ëks for oil spill awareness.
[+] Naomi- 22 ëks for radical childcare, allowing working mothers access to free and safe childcare.
[+] Hyla- 6 ëks for cyberfeminism.net.
[+] Graziano- 6 ëks for DJ mentoring.

To learn more about the ëks-Change project and other works that The Floating Lab collective has produced, please visit www.floatinglabcollective.org

To learn about other community currency projects, please visit: http://wiki.provisionslibrary.org/currency/