The Council is in Session
At a time of increasing public dissatisfaction with politicians and their ability to represent constituents in the United States, The Council is in Session is a tabletop roleplaying game and participatory improvisational performance experience created by Angela Washko. Played while seated around a custom table designed for this game and outfitted with custom electronics, embedded sculptural glass displays, resin polyhedral dice sets made by the artist, and six different player booklets, The Council is in Session invites players to imagine and perform a scenario in which they are tasked with reimagining a community’s governance while responding to musical cues, instructional prompts, and finding new community and unlikely allies amidst a large scale catastrophe.
The project was first exhibited at the Weird Hope Engines exhibition at Bonington Gallery at Nottingham Trent University. It was curated by Rebecca Edwards, Jamie Sutcliffe, and David Blandy.
Credits:
"The Council is in Session" was funded, in part, by The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) at University of Michigan and Stamps School of Art & Design's Catalyst Fund for Faculty Research and Innovation.
Game Design, Art, Writing: Angela Washko
Music Composer: Jesse Stiles
Table Fabrication: Andy Healy
