‘Funcshuional Art’ to Ensure Good Fortune

Bonnie Ora Sherk invented a term ‘Funcshuional Art’ to describe her art practice.  It is a hybrid formed out of two words that represent contrasting approaches for ensuring good fortune. They originated in opposite sides of the globe.

Functionalism’ refers to any doctrine that stresses utility or purpose. It is typically associated with the willed implementation of controllable inputs that produce observable results. It is a product of a Western pragmatic mindset and the assumption that humans must create optimal conditions for themselves.

Feng Shui’ is the art of determining the most favorable placement of a grave, building, room, etc., so that the maximum harmony is achieved . This practice involves discerning conditions that enable people to benefit from energies that are pre-existing and invisible, and then yielding to them. Originating in China, this approach cultivates responsiveness; it does not impose action.

Sherk devised the word ‘funcshuional’ to explain the principle that sustains her “Living Libraries.” She states that the goal “is to develop Branch Living Library & Think Parks in diverse places of the world that will be linked through Green Powered Digital Gateways, so we can experience the commonalities and diversities of cultures and ecologies, near and far.”

This year alone, 12,000 children in San Francisco schools have attended the Leadership Program at the Branch Living Library & Think Parks, in addition to children on Roosevelt Island in New York City.