“Curated by postage stamp artist Michael Hernandez de Luna, the work in AXIS OF EVIL speaks directly and bluntly about present day issues, such as the war in Iraq, September 11, American foreign policy amongst other current events. The carnival of images resulting in AXIS OF EVIL is a provocative visual labyrinth of social commentary that reflects a historical parallel to protest art of the 60’s and 70’s.”

International Exhibition “Axis of Evil: The Secret History of Sin” at Columbia College Chicago. April, 2005.

[roll over images for Artist information]

“Owing to a number of images that ridicule the president and members of his administration, the show has been called “anti-Bush” when, in fact, its theme is much broader. It addresses not just politicians of both major parties in the United States, but different political systems, the clergy, corporations, war, television, terrorism, gun culture, cigarette smokers and despoilers of the natural landscape in addition to the Seven Deadly Sins treated in art and literature.”

” ‘Axis of Evil’ contains sheets of artist-designed stamps from 11 countries. Because such stamps often are affixed to envelopes and sent through the mail, the work is a branch of correspondence art, which has been a recognized international movement since the early 1960s. However, because none of the stamps on view was used that way, the element of art as a guerrilla activity is not emphasized, though the theme of the show ensured that art would still be seen as an instrument of social protest.”

“The kinds of images found on the stamps are familiar from posters encountered at political rallies. There, of course, they preach to a choir that shares the same point of view, and no matter how overstated the criticism or broad the humor no one is offended. A gallery, on the other hand, is a venue that potentially serves visitors of every viewpoint, so the risk of giving offense is continuous. Hence, the call to the Secret Service almost immediately after the exhibition opened.”

“Few of the images are subtle; as with posters, the messages on stamps have to be conveyed forcefully, in an instant. This makes the prospect of their getting through the mail so delicious, for each stamp is usually perfectly clear as to what it’s about and, even so, passes undetected under the noses of people at some of the institutions being criticized. When shown, as here, in pristine sheets and blocks, its harder for the viewer to get that prankish aspect, but once grasped, the subversive humor lightens the tone of even more gruesome images.”

Source: http://www.badpressbooks.com/news.html

Amidst the many historical sites in Ridgefield—including a Revolutionary War battleground and a Colonial tavern, Magnusson’s markers will arrest viewers with contemporary facts such as “ON THIS SITE STOOD, RY BRAUER, TYPICAL AMERICAN TEEN. BY THE AGE OF 18, HE HAD WITNESSED OVER 30,000 MURDERS ON TV.” The subject matter of Magnusson’s project is broad, with other topics including global warming, the importance of dissent in the democratic process, evolution/intelligent design, and “Walmartification.”

Magnusson, clearly aware of the potential for these contemporary roadside markers to persuade and shape ideas, comments, “Historical markers are an inherently interesting vehicle for socially pointed thoughts. The types of people who stop to read them are collectively defined more by their curiosity about the world around them than they are by any shared ideological leanings, which makes them a perfect audience for a carefully-crafted message.” Magnusson hopes his art will open minds and shape opinions, and calls what he is doing an art of social conscience.

Norm Magnusson

At Monday’s Anti-Bush protest in Ottowa, peaceful protesters, including Union president Dave Coles, squared off along the line with three masked men who seemed fairly intent on turning things violent. At one point Coles, suspicious of their intent, accuses the men of being police officers. The men freeze like deer in headlights, and are almost too-quickly taken down by waiting riot police.

Evidence here is not trial-proof. It may just be that three kids who listen to too-much punk rock wanted to stir things up. That is very possible. But, is it also possible that Canadian police planted provocateurs within the protest lines in order to force a violent confrontation that could potentially end in the arrest and dissipation of these protesters? Absolutely.

“A couple arrested at a rally after refusing to cover T-shirts that bore anti-President Bush slogans settled their lawsuit against the federal government for $80,000, the American Civil Liberties Union announced Thursday.”

Via: http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/wireStory?id=3489979

Holding torches, some 2,000 people form the sign of peace during an antiwar and anti-violence rally in the Heroes Square in central Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday evening, March 20, 2005. The rally was organized by the Humanist Movement of Hungary to mark the second anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Photo by Zsolt Szigetvary

The 4th year thesis of Mark Daye, a graphic design student. (Toronto)

Instead of rebranding a product, or service for my 4th year thesis project I chose to represent a local population that usually gets overlooked. I re-coded official signage and affixed 30 of them to poles in the downtown core with messages pertaining to an obvious but ignored urban sub culture. The goal was not only to catch people off guard by creating signs that acknowledge the homeless population on a seemingly official level, but to get people to think about codes of behaviour, conformity, acceptance and to maybe spare some consideration for the homeless who live mostly ignored in the city, blending into the background just like the signs.

Source

Black Flag’s Henry Rollins describes his first visit to Walter Reed Hospital to visit wounded veterans on behalf of the USO.

Land mine victims learn to walk on prosthetic legs at ICRC clinic.

James Nachtwey