Rolling Counterpoint

Rolling Counterpoint was a space for encounter designed to foster public dialogue about notions of division and belonging in contemporary society. Seeking to respond to the divisive discourse of a fraught election cycle, Our team invited people to join an ongoing conversation centered on two questions: What divides us? and What does it mean to belong?

Drawing on the tradition of the Japanese teahouse, Rolling Counterpoint consisted of two structures: one stationary space installed outdoors and one mobile teahouse on an automobile trailer that traveled to three Bay Area cities; San Jose, San Francisco and Berkeley. At each location, I set a focused topic invited people form the entities related to the topic to join me inside the teahouse and shared tea and conversation. Topics included social and political exclusion in Japanese and Muslim communities, homelessness and mental health in Tenderloin District and gentrification in West Berkeley.