REPRESSION & ...Broomsticks(?)

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to make the group aware that Lady Liberty made an appearance at a community event that Occupy: The Bronx held on Saturday to defend a community garden that the city had recently bulldozed.  5 people were arrested for peaceably standing on the sidewalk (they were NOT blocking traffic -which was non-existent).  We then marched to the 40th precinct, and had a GA while we waited for them to be released.  Then we marched BACK to the garden and shared
thoughts and the history of the garden & action, then left.

HOWEVER, on our way to the subway, the cops prevented us from leaving and demanded that we give them the rods that controlled the puppet's arms and head because they were potential weapons.  !!!

- Joe

COURAGE & REPRESSION

Grindcore Violinist protests 1st amendment violations at Lincoln Center

On December 3, 2011, I was again removed from the city-owned plaza of Lincoln Center for holding a sign, two days after a general assembly including Philip Glass, Lou Reed, and Laurie Anderson came to celebrate Glass's opera about nonviolence, "Satyagraha" only to find the plaza entirely barricaded and inaccessible.

As is the case in most "public-private" situations, the private security wanted more.  They wanted me off the city sidewalk which was not their jurisdiction.  Thanks to one real NYPD officer who chose not to order me off the sidewalk (the old, "blocking the wide-open sidewalk" trick), I was able to finish my set and address the crowd.

Locked out Sotheby's art handlers confront Diana Taylor, Bloomberg's partner and Sotheby's board member

The locked out Sotheby’s art handlers and members of Occupy Wall Street confronted Diana Taylor (Bloomberg's partner), a member of the Sotheby’s board, at the Dec 1 meeting of the Hudson River Park Trust. If you have trouble hearing what Taylor says to the teamsters, it is the following: she will resign from the board if Sotheby’s accedes to any of the art handlers’ demands (i.e., getting back health care and a decent living wage).

Occupy the Bull: Dec 6, 2011

Occupy Cinema will present a very special projection and performance at the charging bull sculpture Tuesday night starting at 6PM.

The projection will be a homage to the iconic Adbusters image (below) that sparked the Occupy revolution. The dean of Brooklyn College has donated their window that overlooks the bull for this special night.

Please come out in support (tutus optional).

Occupycinema.org



View Larger Map

Occupy Museums & Occupy 477 Stand against Foreclosures - Dec 6, 2011

477 W. 142nd Street is a landmark building on Alexander Hamilton's former estate. The building has served for decades as a residence for low-income families and been a key site of the black community in New York City. The house is currently facing foreclosure by Madison Park Investors LLC and E.R. Holding. Brutal tactics have been used to try and force residents out, including the sabotage of the building's boiler as the winter months approach.

December 6th marks the international day of action for Occupy Wall Street against the foreclosures led by the 1%. On this historic day Occupy 477 and Occupy Museums join forces to stand against gentrification and stand up for the right to housing for all!

It just so happens that The Museum of Finance on Wall Street is housed in the former headquarters of the Bank of New York, founded by Alexander Hamilton—America's first Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton created the country's financial system. On December 6th, we will march a replica of 477 W. 142nd Street to the Museum of American Finance, and offer it as an exhibit of the damaging effects of Wall Street’s financial system on American’s everyday lives.

December 6th
12:00 PM ----Meet at 477 West 142nd st. HDFC
3:00 PM----Arrive at Museum of American Finance, 48 Wall Street, New York

Click to read more ...

Concentricity/OWS

An animation by Occupennial co-organizer Paul McLean

Occupy Broadway, Dec 2, 2011

Dramatic Karaoke #occupybroadway

See Paul Talbot's post on The Wheel blog about Occupy Broadway HERE.

Below:

""Video from the amazing monologist Mike Daisey performing at #occupy broadway afer his Off-Broadway show "The agony of Steve Jobs" at The Public Theater for more information http://www.publictheater.org/component/option,com_shows/task,view/Itemid,141/id,1043 or check out Mike Daisey at http://mikedaisey.blogspot.com/

Occupy Ninjas Take Manhattan!

Philip Glass and Lou Reed speak at Occupy Lincoln Center - Dec 1, 2011

Occupy Wall Street Arts & Labor Teach-In with Andrew Hemingway, Gregory Sholette, and a special appearance from LOVE’s Purple Dinosaur December 4th, 1PM

Underground Theater, Abrons Art Center, Henry Street Settlement
 
The phenomenal growth of the Occupy movement in recent months has brought new momentum to longstanding discussions of the relationship between art, labor and capitalism. The teach-in will be a platform to discuss two important historical precedents to our current situation: artist-workers under the New Deal, the Federal Art Programs (1933-43), and the Art Workers Coalition (1969-1971). What are the connections, parallels, and differences between these three historical moments? As we organize in the present, what can we learn from the successes, failures, and unfinished projects of the past? In turn, how might contemporary developments help us to rethink established generational narratives?
 
In addition, we will be screening an action video from the feminist video collective LOVE (Lesbians Organized for Video Experience) featuring a big purple paper mache dinosaur that was wheeled into the streets and to the Museum of Natural History, in a protest demanding that feminists be hired, and that a non-patriarchal view of history be represented by the museum (1973).
 
This event is part of an ongoing series of educational initiatives and direct actions organized by the Occupy Wall Street Arts & Labor group.  
 

Click to read more ...

Open Letter to Labor Servicing the Culture Industry

I’ve worked as an art handler in New York, both as a freelancer and on the payroll with benefits. The two modes of handling art both share the constant threat of losing one’s job if any mistakes are made or if any hesitation to accommodate what is requested—or more often expected—is revealed. Freelancing is less and more stressful. Freelancing allows for a lifestyle where literally 10–14 hour days (like many others, I’ve done 16ers, some overnighters) can be packed into a week during an exhibition change, with weeks off to “focus on one’s own work.” Constantly flirting with poverty, as most freelancers are, a seemingly large chunk of money is obtained that vanishes rather quickly after coping with the realities of New York rent. A pattern emerges after freelancing for a while where the free time is often spent worrying and networking for the next job. Cultures develop over a period of time amongst crews. They get to know each other and the people who staff the gallery fulltime, but when the gig is over, so is the connection to the gallery or the museum. God forbid a freelancer come down with the flu or something worse; if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. The freelancer also has to be always accommodating and ready to work when the phone rings. If not, the phone may not ring again. Freelancers are constantly juggling the phone ringing too much, overbooking and having to say no; or more often, the phone doesn’t ring enough. Freelancers expend a lot of time and energy (labor) in a constant hustle when they are not presently working. A certain degree of satisfaction and camaraderie can come from working on a crew to pull off an insanely large installation under pressure in a short period of time, but at the end of the day, in spite of his/her specialized skill, in spite of the fact that most hold MFAs (that they’ve taken on a lifetime of debt for), the freelance art handler is the lowest rung on the ladder of the art world, barely worthy of eye contact.

Click to read more ...

Creative Folly: The Illusory Support of Artists by American Arts Organizations & Funders

by Lisa A. Miles

A decade ago, I published a book about a woman artist and her work, and the role of that work in  both larger American society and the art world.  Another one formally begins here, to expose the lunacy that underlies American arts organizations and funders’ support for the individual artist, and to propose alternatives far more sane, just, creative and in fact do-able.   

 

My biography of Esther Phillips, This Fantastic Struggle, was explicitly a cultural essay, as well, on the struggle that all artists face in trying to make a living, and thus deriding (appropriately) the little-respect society has for creative workers.  This current work tackles in-depth the illusory support by the American arts establishment, which is supposed to be championing the artist’s cause.  It is a required critical look at its means of supporting (or not) those that aim to make a substantive creative contribution to society, informed by my own longstanding work as a creative artist, but also many, many others working similarly.

Click to read more ...

Occupy Sound: Volume 2

[From Wyatt]:

...This is a follow-up to the PopWork USA/Rebuild the Dream collabo project featuring songs of struggle and beats that let you get your march or rally on properly. Click here to listen or download.  This volume includes suggestions by online listeners and participants on the Rebuild the Dream website so not exactly my list but definitely my curating. From Steve Earle to the Temptations, Black Flag to Phil Ochs, M.IA. to N.E.R.D (see full playlist at www.popwork.org). Let me know what you think.

Thanks again for everyone’s ideas. To hear it just go here.  ...Here is the playlist for Vol 2: Power to the People (excerpt) – John Lennon; Amerika V. 6.0 (The Best We Can Do) – Steve Earle; The Harder They Come – Jimmy Cliff; Pull Up the People – M.I.A.; Rise Above – Black Flag; Ball of Confusion – The Temptations; Soobax – K’naan; Lapdance – N.E.R.D.; Church of the ATM (excerpt) – Chris Rock; Mr Greed – John Fogerty; Get Up Stand Up – Bob Marley; That’s What I Want to Hear – Phil Ochs; Open Letter – Living Colour; Our Song – Joe Henry; Bluestime in America – Michael Hill’s Bluesland; Who Will Survive in America – Kanye West/Gil Scott-Heron; Water No Get Enemy – Fela Kuti

A big surprise was the number of original songs that have been submitted since the first volume was released. For those of you with original songs or recent songs inspired by OWS, send in those MP3s! One special podcast will feature all of these genuine contributions that have streamed in over the last few weeks from songwriters and musicians. It will be Occupy Sound Vol 3: The Originals.

police brutality coloring book

Available now: http://policebrutalitycoloringbook.blogspot.com

Eviction

[Note: The following was posted on the Occupy|Decolonize|Liberate blog.]

Below are excerpts from artist Dont Rhine (Ultra Red)’s facebook feed:
‎
“Here the cops come lead by a little tiny lady cop. They’re carrying teargas guns or beanbag guns.”
Like · · 3 minutes ago ·
‎
[They're reciting the principles of organization inside the park using Mic Check. It's very moving.]
Like · · 13 minutes ago ·

‎”Cops coming in with zip ties.”
Like · · 15 minutes ago ·
‎
“The cops are going after the treefort. They hate it.”
Like · · 16 minutes ago ·

“Where do we go? We are home?”
Like · · 26 minutes ago ·

Protestor: “If you give me a hug I will leave right now.”
Like · · 28 minutes ago ·

Click to read more ...

Occupy Museums protests the anti-democratic policies of Lincoln Center and Bloomberg at Satyagraha

Occupy Museums to protest the anti-democratic policies of Lincoln Center and Bloomberg on the last performance of Satyagraha Thursday December 1, 2011 at 10:30PM.

It is no doubt timely that Philip Glass' opera 'Satyagraha'--which depicts Gandhi's early struggle against colonial oppression in South Africa--should be revived by the Metropolitan Opera in 2011, a year which has seen popular revolutions in North Africa, mass uprisings in Europe, and the emergence of Occupy Wall Street protests in the United States.

Yet we see a glaring contradiction in ‘Satyagraha’ being performed at the Lincoln Center where in recent weeks protestors from Occupy Wall Street have been arrested and forcibly removed for exercising their First Amendment rights to peaceful public assembly.

Click to read more ...

Occupy the URL

Enter in any URL and watch as the website gets occupied:  http://occupytheurl.com

OCCUPY BROADWAY!

CONTACTS:
Benjamin Shepard 917.586.7952
Monica Hunken and Benjamin Cerf 917.215.0163

Click to read more ...

New Photo Galleries!

Click on the image to go to the Occupennial Photo section to see new galleries added featuring the amazing photos of Stephen O'Byrne, who's been taking pictures of the occupation since September 24th.

OCCUPY THE HOLIDAYS KICKSTARTER

To visit the Kickstarter for OCCUPY THE HOLIDAYS, click HERE.

About this project

Occupy the Holidays: The Occupy Wall Street Arts & Culture Working Group along with the OWS Puppet Guild are bringing a giant puppet & performance spectacle to the streets of New York City.

Occupy the Holidays will showcase many different performance groups (masked performers, dancers, puppeteers, stilt walkers, musicians...) in a travelling piece of street theater as we tell the tale of Mayor Michael Scroogeberg and his quest to find the best (and moste expensive!) gift this Holiday season.

The OWS puppet guild has had an overwhelming amount of support for our unique artistic contribution to the movement.  As has been show for hundreds of years, puppets are a very special and potent tool in the battle for a new consciousness.  They help us educate ourselves and others, and they help us celebrate what we've accomplished so far.  They will help us tell our story and continue to grow this movement and re-inspire our faling democracy.

But making giant puppets in nyc is expensive!  We learned a lot in Occupy Halloween about the cost of storing, transporting, feeding volunteers and this new ambitious budget will help us create a revolutionary theatrical event like no other. Any size contribution will help!  

And if you can't donate, please repost/retweet/share this link widely!

THANK YOU!!!!