Spread Art was wandering around Bushwick today with a canvas, Sharpies, crayons, and a desire to see how folks would respond to "Bushwick Is..." Directors,Thomas Bell and Christina deRoos left Spread Art
around 1pm with the canvas showing the boundaries of Bushwick way back
when (1800s) and the boundaries of Bushwick today. After a few initial stops
(a pharmacy, a laundromat, a bodega) we made our way to Maria Hernandez Park (named after a woman who was shot and killed in 1989 for fighting to rid her block of drug dealers).
In the park we were overwhelmed with kids
and also a lot of adults wanting to participate. Among them was a
veteran (Iraq and Afghanistan), whose reflections on his experience
returning to Bushwick, and the words he addedto the canvas ("god forgive me can you") are unlikely to leave my mind anytime soon.
After
the park we made our way to Brooklyn Fireproof to share the community
dialogue that had happened so far and invite further participation. Brooklyn Fireproof was a location of today'sBETA spaces event, described as "a one-day festival of independently curated, collaborative group exhibitions."
The
"Bushwick Is..." canvas is part of an ongoing project begun in 2006 by
Erin Partridge, Thomas Bell and Christina deRoos. The project aims to facilitate
community dialogue and self-reflection and to document moments in time
as Bushwick experiences rapid gentrification.
Spread Art directors Thomas Bell and Christina deRoos installed Numbers, an installation that highlights human costs of the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan that are rarely reported in mainstream media.See photos of the process of installation as well as the final result here.
The
installation consists of flag draped coffins and numbers stenciled on
paper then covered with bubble wrap. The width and placement give
viewers a choice between walking across and popping bubbles or making a
small but extra effort to jump across and avoid interacting. This
parallels the ability those of us in the United States have to avoid
witnessing the impact of the government policies carried out in our
name. It requires a bit of effort, although not much, to avoid the
messy reality of our ongoing policies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
*****
Numbers used include:
32,907 Weight in tons of bombs dropped by the U.S. Air force in Iraq & Afghanistan through 2007
6129 American and coalition military casualties in Iraq & Afghanistan
120 American military casualties since Obama was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2009
46% The percentage of air raid casualties that are women are girls
766 The number of journalists and academics that have been killed in Iraq
1395 The number of contractor employee deaths in Iraq
102,083 Documented civilian deaths from violence in Iraq (Estimate is 93,552-102,083)
39% The percentage of air raid casualties that are children
>100 thousand The number of American military wounded
$7500 The amount the U.S. Army paid to two children whose mother was killed inside a taxi
that ran a checkpoint. Both children were also in the taxi, and were
shot and injured.
Thank you to Iraq Body Count, AntiWar, andiCasualties for maintaining databases that make these and many more numbers readily available.
*****
Popping bubble wrap generally evokes enthusiasm from people regardless of age. With Numbers,
the excitement of walking, jumping, or otherwise popping bubbles is
tempered by the reality of stepping on representations of victims of
violence.
Numbers
also presents an opportunity for participants to reflect upon the
myriad impacts of war, including responses to loud or surprising
sounds, such as the pops of bubble wrap. For child and adult survivors of war, loud noises can trigger intrusive memories, nightmares,
hallucinations or flashbacks, sometimes resulting in exaggerated responses. As one Iraq veteran explains, "any little noise and I'd jump out of bed and run around the house with
a gun."
In the same way, the sound of an airplane flying overhead can cause
stress for survivors of aerial bombings, while it is of no consequence
to others.
Lastly, Numbers
is provides a visual reference point for the ongoing violence as the
total number of bubbles in the installation is approximately the same
as the total number of tons of bombs that have been dropped on Iraq and
Afghanistan to date.
1) Cessation of Suffering, 48"x48", Acrylic & collage on panel, Thomas Bell, $1000 2) Waiting, 48"x48", Acrylic & collage on panel, Thomas Bell, $1000 3) Pain, 48"x48", Acrylic & collage on panel, Thomas Bell, $1000 4) Hope Remains, 30"x30", Acrylic, fabric, metal on canvas, Christina deRoos, $1200
