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