C Drew - Street Artist Adventures

The day was sunny and I found myself free. So, I decided to visit the Loop to print patches and give them away. ”Where to print?” I pondered. Should I test the Merchandise Mart spot again to find out if my Artropolis treatment is consistent or some other spot? My reasons for giving my art away can be found in previous posts.

Columbia College has its Manifest Urban Arts Festival this Friday (5/16/08). Maybe I’ll print there to build support among their student body for artists speech rights, I thought. Co-workers who attend Columbia at my part-time photo gig encouraged me to be around Columbia for Manifest. Columbia College became my destination.

When I arrived I saw the sun was shining on the street before Columbia where students came outside to relax, smoke cigarettes and talk. The mail box and a postal storage box in front of the entrance created a shadow just large enough to protect my printing from the sun which dries the ink in the screen forcing frequent cleanups making printing difficult. Ink cakes up in the screen and a layer of drying ink coats the screen surface. Then, letters fill in and do not print. Rubbing the bottom with a damp cloth may loosen the ink up and allow you to print more. Continuous quick printing shaded from the sun is the best solution. Interrupting the printing to talk promises difficulties.

No sooner then I setup, a security guard came out to ask if I was with the “College.”

“Definitely not!” I told her. She asked if I was selling something.  I asked back why she wanted to know this before explaining that I was giving away patches. In retrospect, I should have emphasized I intended to give my patches away. This might have set a different tone. I also should have displayed my “free patches” sign at all times to make my intentions very clear.

I added red ink on top and blue ink on the bottom of the design and then splashed a dab of yellow on the blue. Another dab of yellow was placed in the lower corner away from the design. This yellow ink I intended to use to wipe splashes of yellow with a strip of card stock wherever needed to keep the print colors alive as I pulled the squeegee. It occurred to me that I should have gotten a photo of the security guard. I took out my camera to be ready. Sure enough, she came back out to ask if I had a permit to give away my patches.

As I picked up my camera, I framed my answer in my mind. It was my intention to say to her that the City does not require a permit to give art away. At the first sight of the camera before I could make my statement she changed the subject to what was I taking pictures of. When I said I was documenting my art activities she fled for the door allowing me only the image of her back. This was best as it is the system I wish to expose and not the individual employees who deliver its repressive message.

I began printing as fast as I could inviting passersby to take a free patch. I expected a policeman to be showing up soon and wanted to establish clearly my activity. Several people did pick up a patch. I saw him coming before he reached me. He was a big strong man in the same college security uniform as the lady. He began gently. Speaking softly, leaning toward me to smile. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m giving away patches,” I said simply. His first question made sense to me. The next confused me. He wanted to know if I were taking photos around out front of the College. “Why do you want to know? Is there some law that says I can’t document my art activities on the public way?” I asked.

We repeated ourselves this way twice more. Then he got on his phone to ask the first officer to tell him what rule I was supposed to be breaking. When I continued talking he barked, “Shut Up!”

This convinced me to focus on printing while he sought legal support from the first officer over the phone. “…I’m not s’posed to be doing this…” he muttered under his breath while he waited for her to explain what law I was violating. As the tension eased up a student poked his head the other side of the officer and asked if he could have a patch.

“Yes! Yes, take one!” I urged him. In a moment a small arch of students asking for patches conversing amongst each other collected around me. Then, I heard a familiar voice. It was an art instructor I knew from the College with some of his students saying goodbye to each other for the summer. By this time the security guard had disappeared not waiting for any more guidance from his coworker. I take my hat off to him. He acted well. The rest of my stay went very well. Another instructor listening to my conversation urged me to return Friday for Manifest - the school year ending art exposition of Columbia College. I promised her I would and did. I received an excellent reception by students who understood the value art scenes in Chicago could have to emerging artists.

Thanks to all who came by and talked or let me talk. Those who signed our petition – thank you. A volunteer will call you or email you for our summer and fall petition drive. Wear your Free Speech Artists’ Movement patches. Speakout about our right to sell art on the streets and in the parks of our nation. Help make Chicago more friendly to artists.