Friday, February 3, 2012

Laurie Arbeiter, We will not be silent

PROJECT PROPOSAL 



A small group of artists from NYC created a language-project in 2006, when we began wearing and distributing shirts that said WE WILL NOT BE SILENT, a historic statement that dated back to a 1942/1943 resistance movement in Germany called the White Rose. We translated the statement into six languages and over 50,000 were distributed all over the world. This project was chosen to be included in a curated exhibition in Sienna, Italy, dealing with artists and their response to war. 



We have recently been inspired by the liberation and occupy movements worldwide and in October designed over 35 new statements that are now being distributed and worn by people in the public realm and inspiring communication between those who wear the shirts and those they encounter. 



We also create public happenings with people wearing the shirts during site-specific actions. Our goal at these actions is to capture public attention and to be captured by photo-journalists who then, through their framed images, help continue to spread the messages worldwide through the media. Our efforts have been documented in many publications.



Our proposal for participation in the OCCUPY WALL STREET TO OCCUPY MAIN STREET exhibition would include:



1. An ongoing installation, through the course of the exhibit, in which the shirts would be displayed either in a storefront space and/or a gallery space. We would also include photo documentation of images of people in action in the shirts. The shirts would be available for purchase for people who wanted to join us in embodying the different messages. We are considering setting up a video camera to document some of the people who would choose to wear the shirts, to have them speak about the meaning of the language that they will now embody and what it brings to their mind.



2. A public happening in the streets with people unified by wearing the different shirts to capture people's attention and compel involvement by others passing by. This event would also be documented.  



Thank you for your consideration,

Laurie Arbeiter





www.wewillnotbesilent.net


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10 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 5, 2012 at 3:57 PM

    YES: There will be some things for sale with a split to the space and organizers. Suggest also tie-in or collaboration with OWS silkscreen printers.

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    Replies
    1. Fawn PotashFebruary 9, 2012 at 4:44 PM

      Sales split is 75% to artist, 10% to building owner, 15% to the Arts Council with all sales going through the Arts Council's bookkeeper.

      Also there is a Catskill Main Street screen printer, a young fellow who I think would welcome a collaboration.

      Does anyone know the OWS screenprinters?

      Delete
  2. Arthur PolendoFebruary 7, 2012 at 8:51 PM

    Without photos of the shirts, it seems that they would at least state what the shirts say or depict. Shouldn't this be known before awarding them participation? deferred.

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    Replies
    1. Fawn PotashFebruary 9, 2012 at 4:48 PM

      T shirts are black with white block text. ANy favorites?

      WE WILL BE HEARD
      GREED KILLS
      ENDANGERED
      WAKE
      UNARMED CIVILIAN
      BEGIN AGAIN
      DO NO HARM
      REDISTRIBUTE
      THE RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE
      RECLAIM POWER
      MIC CHECK
      RECLAIM SOLIDARITY
      OCCUPY THE U.S.A.
      RECLAIM RIGHTS
      RESTORE THE EARTH
      RECLAIM JUSTICE
      WE WILL NOT BE SILENT
      RECLAIM LOVE
      WE WILL BE HEARD
      RECLAIM HOPE
      SHARE
      RECLAIM THE HEART
      GENEROSITY
      RECLAIM CULTURE
      TOWARD LIBERATION
      RECLAIM LANGUAGE
      STAY HUMAN
      RECLAIM DEMOCRACY
      LOVE/ARABIC
      RECLAIM FREEDOM
      FREEDOM/ARABIC
      RECLAIM THE COMMON GOOD
      SOLIDARITY/ARABIC
      RECLAIM THE FUTURE
      PALESTINE
      RECLAIM THE MIND
      PEACE WITH IRAN
      OCCUPY THE MIND
      STILL HERE

      Delete
    2. ArthurFebruary 10, 2012 at 9:09 AM

      After your provided information I wish to cast a "Yes"

      Delete
  3. MarayaFebruary 8, 2012 at 4:04 PM

    Yes.Could be interesting to tie in the stencil area with people wearing these shirts.Just an idea..

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  4. kateFebruary 9, 2012 at 9:34 AM

    i like the idea of having a happening --- can we see the shirts? do we have the space?

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  5. SamFebruary 9, 2012 at 11:32 AM

    Seems substantially positive: Not familiar with what the shirts say.

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  6. paulFebruary 9, 2012 at 7:15 PM

    yes

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  7. imaniFebruary 10, 2012 at 1:18 PM

    yes re: wearing shirts and happening. defer idea of installing static shirts as display

    ReplyDelete

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