Seizing Freedom

Philadelphia is full of freedom messages and art. 

My camera worked overtime during our visit,

trying to capture all I saw.  

How do we celebrate freedom and live out our rights to be free?  What are the words we live by?  Do we exchange one freedom for another?  How is it that we continue to enslave ourselves in one way or another - whether through our though processes or standards or beliefs?

"...I was not alone. 

There were many others who felt the same way."

This resounds.



And what is the experience of American freedom as compared to any other "kind" of freedom?  What is the attraction of freedom in the U.S. as compared to freedom elsewhere?  Does freedom exist in more potency here?  What is it like to live in a country, for example, that does not allow religious freedom or freedom of speech?  What is it like to live in a place that does not allow women to read great literature classics?

"...freedom is a personal and lonely battle..."

Is this because only we know what we have set out to free ourselves from?  Is this because, even though the laws of our land dictate freedom, we continue to set up invisible laws of our own that we beat ourselves up over for not abiding?

How can I use my freedom

to ensure that others are free and remain free?

No one knows for sure how, when, or why the Liberty Bell got its crack.  I imagine it has to do with the force with which it was ringing.  Ring them bells; they rung it - loud and clear.

It can only follow then, can't it, that as I continue ringing for freedom,

striving to seize it,

something is going to crack in me?

This is Art

The ability to see

that when these elements

are compiled just so,

the final outcome will be a picture
that looks like this:

As seen at the EPA building in Philadelphia, PA.

Found these interesting websites while trying to look for more information about this piece:

Crane Arts

Web Urbanist



Fray

Who am I

behind everything

that hides me?

Who will I be,

how will I find myself,

when all is stripped away -

even my faith,

and the words

emblazoned

When I'm laid bare

what will be

found left

of me

to say

I was here -

a survival

in existence

?

All of this,

all of this,

could disappear,

dissolve -

it could all

disintegrate,

tatter,

fray

 

 

Chronicle Project

There is an art project that I participated in through the Art House Co-op recently.  It was the Chronicle Project, and it was about documenting a 24 hour period of time in one piece of work that could fold up to a 4x6 dimension.  I took a ton of photos all day and then collaged them, along with words I'd written throughout the day, onto a map that could fold up into a 4x6 rectangle once I was done.  As is representative of me, you have to get close to really see.  A lot of messages of the infinitesimal were spoken throughout the day and the creation of this project.

My project, along with the other participants pieces, are on permanent display now at the Brooklyn Art Library.  I do plan to go there one day, and will update this post (or create a new one) once I am able to have that experience.

Here are close up pictures of the sections that comprise this piece.