During this extraordinary time of upheaval, as an American and an artist, I need to find my voice—to comment on the violence, vitriol, and the challenges of racial and economic inequality. I also want to find places where I can join conversations about the issues that divide us.
On October 30, 2010, at Jon Stewart’s and Stephen Colbert’s “Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear,” I brought one of these posters to the rally. I offered these images free to the public. But I wondered if other attendees would print them out and bring them. I didn’t see any until a friend emailed me a photo she took showing a fellow spectator hoisting one above his head, nice and large. And then, the next day, I saw this image on the cover of the Huffington Post. As an artist, seeing people use my work as I intended was incredibly gratifying. But it also got me thinking about other ways and venues to convey these ideas, such as placing them in the DC Metro and on social media and YouTube (as memes or by engaging in online debates using these visuals during party conventions and political protests).
Here are a few projects I’ve worked on using these posters and the ideas they have generated. I have a few more ideas percolating.