C Drew - Street Artist Adventures

Printing Under the Sox Park Sign across from the Red Line.

America and Daley’s Chicago are Different

(with respect to your rights)

It was a rough day in the fight for freedom. No one died from enemy fire but many rot on the vine regularly due to severed opportunities. On a lesser note, my jar of peanut butter broke on the way to Sox Park. This was to be my breakfast. At Sox Park, when I reached into my leather bag to find my scissors a shard of glass from the jar sliced my index finger which bled profusely.

After printing for less than an hour heavy thunderclouds appeared overhead. It began to rain lightly just as the Sox Park crowd swelled. To avoid a soaking I packed up fast and headed to the “L”. Few people had stopped to pickup a patch today, I reflected back as I rode the “L” home.

Still, I was amused. I am always thoughtful after printing in public. For me it is like an art opening. I get to meet people and have conversations. The conversations can lead anywhere or nowhere but the most common thread that connects them is the honesty expressed by my visitors. They open up to me. I am seated below them and they occupy the power angle so do not feel threatened by me. I am harmless and hurting no-one by my giving away my art patches.

The exchange that amused me happened just after I had wrapped my bloody finger in a blank cotton patch and duct taped it firmly in place. My “FREE BASEBALL PATCHES” sign was taped to the sidewalk and 8-12 damp prints lay just printed on the ground when I noticed the thin officer stride across 35^th street. He left his car parked by the east end of the stadium.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

My print set-up out at Sox Park.

“I’m giving away free baseball patches,” I replied innocently.

“What’s that?” He pointed to my clipboard. “Is that a petition?”

“Its our “Increase Chicago Creative Spaces” petition”

“The what?…”

“It’s to create more space for artists to sell their art in public in Chicago.”

“Do you think Daley’s going to allow that? He ask with a smirk.

“It’s our First Amendment right in America to sell our art in public”

“Oh, I agree with you on that,” he took a step backward disengaging, “but America and Daley’s Chicago are two completely different places.”

Go Sox Go patch for free speech artists' rights to sell in public given out free to Sox fans wherever it is illegal to sell art in Chicago - like around Sox Park.

“While even Daley can’t argue with the Federal Courts,” I claimed.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said retreating toward his car – “I think you should have your rights but in Chicago – Daley does whatever Daley wants – who’s going to oppose him?”

Before I could argue further he was gone. His tone had not been sympathetic to the Mayor. Then I remembered that Daley’s budget cuts run deep and cast aside promises made to the Police Union. Could it be the police themselves are feeling the iron fist of Daley? How ironic.