"In 1975, #RaivoPuusemp, a conceptual artist of Estonian origin, was elected mayor of the village of #Rosendale, New York. His artistic practice was based mainly on “spreading ideas” realized by others. In seeking the mayor’s office, Puusemp seized an opportunity to use his artistic competence in a new field, to create “a work of art as a solution to a political problem.” In the 1970s the village of Rosendale was struggling with numerous infrastructure, tax, and administrative problems. In a referendum, it was decided to implement #Puusemp’s concept of converting the village into a non- municipal area, lacking its own administration and municipal status, and thus the village passed into the jurisdiction of the neighbouring township (also called Rosendale). During his entire term, Puusemp never referred to his work as an artistic project. After elimination of Puusemp’s civic office, the artist/politician, who enjoyed great popularity and support among the residents, moved with his family to Utah, where he ceased his art work and launched a ski business. [...] In the 1980s, the artist #PaulMcCarthy encouraged Puusemp to publish [The material trace of Puusemp’s work, entitled Beyond Art – Dissolution of Rosendale, 1975–1976]; he also financed the publication."
https://makinguse.artmuseum.pl/en/raivo-puusemp/