Find the Penny, Make the Wish is an interactive art installation that invites participants to explore themes of luck, intention, and community connection. During a 30-minute performance, I temporarily filled the decrepit fountain, titled Capitalism, with water and scattered pennies throughout it. Participants were encouraged to find these pennies, reflect on their wishes for our collective future, and toss their pennies into the fountain while voicing their wishes aloud to the crowd. In a responsive gesture, the crowd mimicked the movement and echoed their wishes, reviving the age-old tradition of the wishing well. This immersive experience transformed the monument to Capitalism into a collective celebration of dreams and aspirations, highlighting the power of community engagement and the importance of individual stories in shaping our shared environment.

Photos by Jada Reese

Styling by Kye Grant

Supported by PSU Art + Social Practice