#50stateinitiative

[eyegiene]

Repost from @forfreedoms Boulder. Atlanta. El Paso. Parkland. Tree of Life Synagogue. Las Vegas. Orlando. San Bernardino. Sandy Hook Elementary School. Aurora. Columbine. Another 10 lives were lost to gun violence yesterday in the nation's second mass shooting in just 7 days. The victims: Eric Talley; Denny Strong; Neven Stanisic; Rikki Olds; Tralona Bartkowiak; Suzanne Fountain; Teri Leiker; Kevin Mahoney; Lynn Murray; and Jody Waters. While the motives of this shooting are still being investigated, artist @paulacrown_art's message is clear: we don't need more thoughts and prayers in America, we need policy changes to ban assault weapons and save lives. #PaulaCrown’s #ForFreedoms billboard was installed in Cheyenne, Wyoming as part of our 2018 #50StateInitiative. Photo by @jscrogginsphoto https://www.instagram.com/p/CMzXyvUDTmB/?igshid=78ft84mq64z5

[jjutt]

For Freedoms. For Us All. @ForFreedoms! #50StateInitiative https://www.instagram.com/p/BpXdafRg5U8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pf4f6r9hm471

[barryschwartznotbarryschwartz]

On The Street When Tomás Kofman from For Freedoms emailed to ask if I would be interested in documenting two billboards in San Francisco, my initial reaction was: Yet another outfit trying to con yet another photographer out of time and money.  Tomás included links to examples from other photographers.  I quickly realized For Freedoms was the real deal. The real real deal.

The name refers to a series of paintings by Normal Rockwell of Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms from 1941: Freedom Of Speech, Freedom From Fear, Freedom From Want, Freedom Of Worship.

I already knew about one of the founders, Hank Willis Thomas – I follow him on Instagram!  While I’d seen work similar to these billboards, never a project with this much range, focus, imagination, serious intent, and fun.

The billboards look like parodies, but they’re not. For Freedoms was onto something else. Parody, as a word, has become a confusing methodology the last few years, every week the world pushing back via outrage and disappointment, outfitted with bizarre reasoning and nonsensical explanations, leading to hurtful actions. Humor helps: the brilliant, biting work being done by comics, many of them spawn of the Chappell Show or Jon Stewart’s Daily Show.  Respectable news organizations, cognizant their respectability is on the line as a result of their past sins, have stepped up their game.  These kinds of changes have helped prop up my Pollyanna attitude: Everything Will Be Alright.  It’s taken some effort to maintain, however.

I’ve been sustained by a flourishing of good work of all kinds that, intended or not, funny or not, educates me and rearranges how I comprehend the world we have now.  Effective work does not have to be subversive to be effective (but it’s nice when it is).  The work For Freedoms produces is subversive: it looks familiar, quickly reveals it’s not what it seems, finally coming around to being exactly what it seems.  This can’t be easy.  Above and beyond, it’s art, and so is impervious to being pinned down as subversive or parody.  The work works.

The For Freedoms website presents a mission – and attitude – containing a tone reminiscent of the socially committed art projects of the Nineteen Twenties and Thirties, some of which were funded by the federal government, inconceivable in the present day.The billboards had wit, charm, good looks, and smarts – what’s not to like?  I wrote to Tomás right away, and signed up.  The billboards needed to be shot and delivered within a single day in order for them to do their job on social media. My job was not to be an artist but to produce artful documents, revealing the context the billboards lived in. Both would look their best at dusk, so the hard part for me would be moving quickly enough to cover the few miles between the billboards in order to get all my photos the same evening before it got dark – and to keep myself from being run over while I was, on occasion, standing in the middle of the street, sometimes on a ladder.  It all worked out.

I’ve shot in the street before. In this case I did my work on the sidewalk or safeguarded between cars.  The only time I got scared was when, while on my ladder on the sidewalk, two large dogs in a beat-up RV a few feet away started barking then lunging at the glass on the passenger door so hard I was afraid they would somehow break out.  I was worried enough to glance around to see which nearby car I could climb on top of out of their reach.  There were none, and in any event had they got out I would never have made it more than a few steps.  I believe in sacrificing for art, but not my life. I got my shot and quickly crossed the street.

I do a lot of architectural photography, meaning my job is to document environments with accuracy, remaining respectful to the intentions of the designer.  A touch of artfulness is OK as long as it helps translate the 3-D world into a 2-D photo.  Billboards exist in a context that is both 2-D and 3-D at the same time, which, along with the style guide Tomás sent me made my goal easier to reach.  I got the shots, went home, and delivered images the next day.

 I believe in the importance of the give-back (I serve on two boards). This had been an opportunity to promote the better angels during a time when those angels seem to be just waking up from a long nap.  This assignment was a gift: being asked to produce photos supporting a smart, informed, broad-minded attempt to make the world a better place.  That’s as good as it gets. 

[guariglia]

Leading up to the midterm elections tomorrow Nov. 6th, I’ve partnered with @forfreedoms to create a billboard for their #50StateInitiative in order to use art to encourage more dialogue and civic engagement. I’m honored to join this campaign with over 100 artists and 150+ billboards across the country. This adaptation of a billboard (billboards are illegal in Alaska) WE ARE THE ASTEROID with text by eco-philospher @tim303 and an image coming from my flights over Greenland with NASA showing boulders of ice from a retreating glacier. Head to @anchoragemuseum to see the work in person! #ForFreedoms #justinbriceguariglia #timothymorton #wearetheasteroid (at Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpzX9VAlIIh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dyisgsinx3jv

[diannesmith]

When one brilliant artist takes in the work of another! @chakaiabooker admiring #christophermeyers work @forfreedoms #50stateinitiative launch party yesterday @fortgansevoort. #forfreedoms #art #power #activism #dopeblackartists 📷#diannesmith #diannesmithart https://www.instagram.com/p/BngO_KJhVbs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cp97hqqqehr2

[virgilortiz]

Protect Cultivate Revive Educate. 👊🏽👽👊🏽thx-> 🔃 @forfreedoms ・・・ COLORADO: @ColoradoCollege hosted several unique activations for the #50StateInitiative about indigenous history and rights in the southwest. Check out @VirgilOrtiz’s “Revolution - Rise Against the Invasion” on view at @fineartscenter through Jan. 6, 2019. . From the press release: “For nearly two decades, Virgil Ortiz has told the story of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt through his artwork, and simultaneously makes it more relevant and engaging to the next generation by using contemporary art to blend historic events with sci-fi fantasy – think Star Wars, Prometheus, The Avengers, and Justice League. His material choices and techniques draw from the past, while his imagery is both ultramodern and futuristic.” . Through the end of 2018 we will be celebrating our partner institutions’ and artists’ activations during the #50StateInitiative from A to Z. Check back for tomorrow’s feature! (at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqTC7AeA_bR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1omhwgrhw1vn1

[lustcovetdesire]

50 states, 50 billboards by 50 artists @forfreedoms #50stateinitiative is a large scale public art project that uses art to deepen public discussions on civic issues and core values, and to advocate for equality, dialogue, and civic participation. Featuring billboards by Rashid Johnson, JR, Marilyn Minter, Awol Erizku, Gordon Parks, Dustin Yellin, Hank Willis Thomas and many more. Seen here: Jenny Holzer in collaboration with @mocalosangeles for @forfreedoms. via @summit (at Venice, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpuQlMzAuvX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kdu4l7ra1d3l

[wqueens7]

#Repost @hankwillisthomas #agitprop ・・・ “Behind the myth of benevolence” Congrats to my brother and inspiration #tituskaphar on #macarthurgenius 2018! We are so honored that his @forfreedoms billboard went up yesterday in Kentucky thanks to @alicegraystites @21chotels ! Thanks also to @brotherrutter @mamrutter !!! #50stateinitiative #forfreedoms #thisisamerica 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (at Washington Monument National Monument) https://www.instagram.com/p/BojGXMKllD1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1e9ykmz005wbb

[guariglia]

The first billboard is up in Oklahoma City, home of climate change denying (R) Senator Jim Inhofe and fallen EPA disaster master Scott Pruitt. “WE ARE THE ASTEROID” Text by @tim303 Project @forfreedoms Led by @hankwillisthomas and @ericgottesman Installation supported by @21chotels Graphic tuning by @de.mo #justinbriceguariglia #21chotels #50stateinitiative #forfreedoms #wearetheasteroid (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/BokDxOLB3Dg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bcs248lnhtly

[guariglia]

#Repost @forfreedoms ・・・ WE ARE THE ASTEROID. Find @justinbriceguariglia’s #50StateInitiative billboards in Oklahoma City, OK (I-40) and Anchorage, AK (@anchoragemuseum). Guariglia has also independently collaborated with @navypierchicago and @stormkingartcenter this past fall to exhibit the installation using a solar-powered LED message board typically used on roadways. . Over the last two decades, Guariglia has worked in collaboration with scientists, philosophers, and journalists to explore important ecological issues of our time and made this billboard to get viewers to think ecologically and question our role in the environment. . In the words of the artist, “I’m #ForFreedoms because artists today can be a positive force for making social and political change by giving us new ways to see and understand the world around us.” . Spot a billboard? Remember to post a picture and tag @ForFreedoms with #50StateInitiative so we can repost you! . Images courtesy of (1) David McNesse (2) @anchoragemuseum. (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqJIqwclBMM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1q1cmc76er59k

[guariglia]

#Repost @forfreedoms ・・・ We are so excited to announce the launch of the 50 State Initiative: the largest creative collaboration in U.S. History. Made up of over 200 partners in 47 states and growing, The 50 State Initiative uses art as a tool to inspire dialogue, to encourage open participation, and to inject nuance into civic conversation. . @ForFreedoms has partnered with @Kickstarter to launch 52 separate campaigns to raise a For Freedoms billboard in every state (and in D.C and Puerto Rico). Bring the 50 State Initiative to your local community by donating to our Kickstarter Campaign! #forfreedoms #50StateInitiative @hankwillisthomas @ericgottesman (at Gowanus, Brooklyn)