FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 26, 2011
Contact: davidjstokle@gmail.com
Visitors to the Occupy Boston site at Dewey Square this weekend can take part in building democracy through art. Brookline artist, David Stokle, will be on site all day Saturday and until 3pm on Sunday to assist people with the completion of the last of five “bookshelf signs,” works of art that voice support for the preservation and maintenance of the nation’s public libraries.
All are invited to help complete the interactive piece by writing short phrases expressing their wants, needs, hopes and ideas for the Occupy Movement. These will appear as book titles on the Bookshelf of Occupy Movement Ideas. A table and writing material will be available. “One word of advice,” says Stokle. “Less is often more. For instance, ‘COPY SWEDEN’ speaks volumes.”
The bookshelf signs are three-dimensional, multi-media works produced on 60 x 40 inch canvases. They incorporate real books, as well as a Monopoly board and a woodcut of McDonald’s golden arches on which a McDonald’s Barbie doll is crucified. The four already-completed signs contain messages of support for the Public Library System, whose budget has been severely compromised in recent years. The fifth bookshelf is a democratic platform for free expression. “You can view the open bookshelf of ideas dialog much like the act of voting,” says Stokle. “Voting is a democratic right, and you either exercise it or you don’t. My hope is that people will enjoy interacting with this piece and that they will use it to express their views and ideas.”
When asked why he included a copy of Bill O’Reilly’s Culture Warrior on one of the bookshelves, Stokle responded: “Bill’s always defending the US Constitution and our first amendment right of freedom of speech. How could I possibly leave him out? And, as the author of several books, it is only logical to assume he would want to contribute to the Bookshelf of Ideas and voice his support for our public libraries. Everyone is invited.”
Picture of one of David Stokle’s pieces: http://imgur.com/2VfV2
Picture of entire wall at Dewey Sq: http://imgur.com/DXP35
6 Responses to “Artist Brings Democracy To Walls of Occupy Boston”
I saw these today. So beautiful. Thank you! We need art like this, as much as possible — new and creative ways of showing what we are against and what we are for! Thank you for your creative energy!
Now we are supposed to support funding of public libraries? The libraries are just another government union scam. The hours they keep are designed for the benefit of their employees. The libraries are always closed when people are not at work and would maybe want to use them. With the same money we could have internet cafes with used books if anyone wants them. Its just like the public schools. Almost all the money goes to salaries and that is the institution’s driving purpose. This same money could instead be spent by the government to actually educate kids. But of course this will never happen. Communism doesn’t work.
sorry, I don’t support artists. They are the jews of the corporate world.
on November 27th, 2011 at 3:58 am #
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‘Copy Sweden’
I chuckled.
I can only imagine how much the materials cost to do this display and yet you owe hundreds of dollars in back child support how about doing a self portrait intitled “Dead Beat Dad”.