E-mail: Current Art Actions - Dissent Welcome
Police set up barriers to protect the Olympic Committee from the dissent of Chicago citizens
I handed out patch-art out in front of the Arts Institute on Monday, April 6th. I had a press release to give to the Olympic Committee visiting Chicago.
The police blocked off the entire block of the Arts Institute of Chicago from the public that night to be sure Chicago citizens would not be able to express their discontent to the Olympic Committee members. I was told to leave the area well before their arrival. The policeman told that someone had received a permit to block off the streets from the public for this occasion. He said I would have to file a Freedom of Information Request to find out who requested the permit. The Free Speech Artists’ Movement is building an illustrated state of our restrictions on freedom of expression in Chicago as we go about seeking our free-speech rights to sell our art on the sidewalks and in the parks of Chicago. The whole world is watching.
We continue to make screens of art submitted to the Patch Art Project . Tell your artist friends to submit a design. This Sunday from 3-6 we will print more patches to prepare for a busy season of Art-Actions beginning Friday.
We need at least one volunteer to help on Friday night, April 17th, at the 2009 ILL Coalition Justice Peace & Environment Conference. On Saturday from 9-6 we need volunteers to cover our table. The following Friday evening, April 24th, we will be participating in the Critical Mass bike ride. Volunteers will be needed on bikes to ride and pass out patches. E-mail us at umcac@art-teez.org with “art-action volunteer” in the subject line and come to the Sunday workshop to help us prepare for the Critical Mass Art-Action.
Thanks for reading about our plans. A special thanks in advance to all who will help us in these two Art-Actions.
c drew - screen print instructor/art activist
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Received from Mo Cahill:
just as an fyi- although there is a great deal of opposition in the progressive community to the chicago olympic bid, i am a wholehearted supporter. i think it is absolutely hypocritical to be committed to peace, but to be unwilling to bear the cost of hosting the olympics. i believe that peaceful contest is the next generation of human evolution. it is something that all peace loving people ought to support.
although many olympic cities have ended up holding the bag for the costs, no olympics held in the us lost money. i am confident that the city of chicago will be enriched by the cultural exchange and international exposure that the olympics will bring. and i believe that peace is always worth the price.
My Response:
Just as an fyi - you are welcome to make a patch that says so. I will post this as a comment to the blog post I am about to make from this e-mail. The real issue is not the Olympics yes or no but the open discussion of such. There is plenty of room in the Free Speech Artists’ Movement for divergent views. If you make a patch on that theme I will make the screen but you will have to print it if you expect it to be widely distributed. No volunteer needs to distribute any patch they do not believe in. That is our policy. I would never ask you to deliver my messages with which you disagree.
The issue is the use of Chicago police to reduce public discourse. We are happy to encourage discourse. If Chicago gets the Olympics it will be an even greater fight to realize our public speech rights, in my humble opinion.
On the other issue mentioned - I am not against the Olympics, just the Olympics in Chicago. Why, because we need to fight for our rights, not larger stadiums. We need use of our parks for the people not corporate dominated events. Just a personal opinion. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
C. Drew
Comment by cdrew — April 14, 2009 @ 8:47 pm