Meta Betties Redefines Activism Through Art, Performance and Technology

Meta Betties, a concept art collective, serves as a powerful commentary on cultural injustices, social issues, and human behavior. Blakelee elaborated on their mission, stating, “We comment on climate change, reproductive rights, women’s rights, politics, religion, equality—everything that is currently going on in our day-to- day life.” Each Meta Bettie persona serves as a timestamp through history, reflecting the progression or regression of societal events and values. Co-founded by Blakelee and Jason Pieroni, Meta Betties transcends traditional boundaries, leveraging blockchain as a catalyst for creative expression and community engagement.

Beyond its artistic expression, Meta Betties operates as a platform for activism, empowering individuals to take tangible actions for social equality. Through the Action Center, token holders gain access to information on pertinent social issues and legislative bills, enabling them to engage directly with policymakers. Jason emphasized, “You buy a Meta Bettie, you’re buying a token to a platform that is meant to be a catalyst for social change.”

What sets Meta Betties apart is its commitment to real-world utility and engagement. The Act2Earn platform incentivizes participation in social activism, rewarding users with tangible benefits for their contributions. By embedding NFC chips into fashion garments, Meta Betties transforms clothing into vehicles for advocacy, allowing wearers to amplify their impact and spark meaningful conversations.

“We embed an NFC chip into the garments and then essentially you as the holder. And everyone that you come in contact with can kind of scan that NFC chip, go to one of these like one page, 60 second, you know, sort of send a message, connect to your Congress. Engagements and then you as the holder actually get that downstream viral credit from the actions that are happening from your garment.” says Jason

Central to Meta Betties’ ethos is the concept of creating in public, fostering collaboration across diverse artistic mediums. Through XR and AR elements, Meta Betties seamlessly integrates movement and technology, bridging the gap between the digital and physical realms. Blakelee highlighted the importance of movement as a universal language, stating, “Showing the relationship between movement and tech helps the Web3 space become more natural and day-to-day.”

Looking ahead, Meta Betties invites individuals to join their movement and support their initiatives. From attending IRL events to minting Meta Bettie pieces, there are myriad ways to engage with the collective and contribute to their mission of social change. As Blakelee aptly stated, “We’re all pioneers in this space” emphasizing the collective responsibility to shape the future of art, technology, and activism.

“Please reach out to us if you want to come into this space and participate in our workshops. We will have our dancers here weekly and we are looking for people who have big ideas in a space like this. There’s really nothing that this space can’t do especially if we have a team right here, you know? Let’s bring people in that are not familiar with web3.” says Blakelee.

We were fortunate enough to capture a live rehearsal at their new Canvas 3.0 residency. Their videographer Julian Lazaro captured an intimate choreographed ritual-like performance that felt in line with the ethos of fine art. The Bettie personas were fiery yet stoic during the recital, despite their kind and welcoming nature as humans. Blakelee instructed the entire set while we shot BTS. We’re confident Meta Betties will be welcoming new mediums of human exploration to the well known World Trade Center based gallery, opening doors for curiosity and education.

“Creating in public is definitely one of our core values, right? And that’s not only us creating in public but collaborating with other like minded artists, activists, content creators, you name it. And so, like, that’s another aspect of the MetaBetties IRL experience. Not only do we have our own activities here but we’re going to, on a weekly basis, encourage other artists to come in and collaborate with us in the space.” says Jason

In the niche landscape of experimentalism, Meta Betties stands as an innovative force and empowerment, inspiring individuals to reimagine the possibilities of creative expression and community-driven activism. With their unwavering commitment to authenticity and social impact, Meta Betties continues to redefine the boundaries of art and advocacy in the digital age.

Writing by Josh Sauceda
Interview by Nik VRSI
Photography by Josh Sauceda