"Fightback"
is a series of stamped word/phrases placed on top of
existing garbage-images around New York City. Currently
the 2 stamps in use read "There is no god" and "Fightback".
These typify the series which will grow to include many
word/phrases, some of which, like "Fightback" are non-specific,
but intimate action, and others that address specific
issues, like "There is no god" addressing the pervasiveness
of magical thinking.
People
will be invited to participate by requesting specific
stamps which they can use in their locality; they will
be asked to document and return the photos to me
for archiving and display.
I
am not involved in using the stamps (which wash away
with rain) for grafitti, but rather am coopting other's
invasion of our walls, hoardings and public sites,
with their illegal stickers, posters and flyers. Specifically,
in reference to the "There is no god" stamp, in my
neighborhood, there is frequent flyer-ing by evangelical
churches, of car windscreens, apartment doorways and
public sites. By adding the stamp onto these flyers,
they nullify the immediacy of the propaganda. Other
sites include advertisments posted on building site
hoardings and the many sticker ads and sticker tags
that proliferate on our public structures like mailboxes,
street lamp posts and parking meters. These invite
our scrutiny and can be usurped to read differently
by the simple placing of a word or phrase.
Further
issues, close to my heart, that will emerge as available
stamps, include vegetarianism/animal rights, pacifism/anti-war,
social issues/anti-capitalism, support for the homeless,
anti-consumerism and more |