Nate Larson & Marni Shindelman

Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman’s collaborative practice investigates the data tracks we amass through networked communication. Numerous publications have featured their work including Wired, The Picture Show from NPR, the New York Times, and the British Journal of Photography. They recently created site-specific public artworks for the Atlanta Celebrates Photography Public Art Commission, the Indianapolis International Airport, and the DUMBO Business Improvement District. Their work is in the permanent collection of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Orlando Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, and the Portland Art Museum. 

The Big Mac Index, published by The Economist, is an informal way of measuring the purchasing parity between two currencies.

The Big Mac Index, published by The Economist, is an informal way of measuring the purchasing parity between two currencies.

Death of the Gold Standard

On August 15, 1971, President Nixon announced that the United States would no longer officially trade dollars for gold.  Although the US had abandoned the gold standard in the early twentieth century, this announcement completely severed the relationship between the dollar and the gold market thus creating the environment for the credit crisis of our current times.

The Economist introduced the Big Mac Index in 1986 as a comparison device for currency across cultures.  In our global culture the price of a standardized item can be used to illuminate multiple economic conditions: labor, trade, trends, and economic health. Death of the Gold Standard investigates various indices, by asking, How can we make value tangible?  We strive to understand equivalence through everyday data points and alternative metrics.

The chairman of the board of Estee Lauder proposes that lipstick sales are inversely related to economic health. Tubes of lipstick are purchased more than new outfits when household budgets are tight.

The chairman of the board of Estee Lauder proposes that lipstick sales are inversely related to economic health. Tubes of lipstick are purchased more than new outfits when household budgets are tight.

Increased purchasing of men’s underwear suggests the beginnings of an economic recovery.

Increased purchasing of men’s underwear suggests the beginnings of an economic recovery.

The Starbuck’s Tall Latte Index is another means of measuring the purchasing parity between two currencies.

The Starbuck’s Tall Latte Index is another means of measuring the purchasing parity between two currencies.

The price of a bottle of Coca-Cola is an alternative means of measuring the purchasing parity between two currencies.

The price of a bottle of Coca-Cola is an alternative means of measuring the purchasing parity between two currencies.

Polling data suggests that bald politicians are not trusted to lead in a crisis.

Polling data suggests that bald politicians are not trusted to lead in a crisis.

The Neilson Company identified the trend of rising condom sales in a economic downturn, “proving what often occurs during economic downturns: People stay home.”

The Neilson Company identified the trend of rising condom sales in a economic downturn, “proving what often occurs during economic downturns: People stay home.”

The price of a loaf of bread is a way to know if your politician is in touch with the common man.

The price of a loaf of bread is a way to know if your politician is in touch with the common man.

The Billy Bookcase Index is another means of measuring the purchasing parity between two currencies.

The Billy Bookcase Index is another means of measuring the purchasing parity between two currencies.

Nate lives in Baltimore, MD and Marni in Athens, GA.

To see more of Nate and Marni’s work, please visit their website.