Saturday, October 13, 2012

Prisoners of conscience in U.S. now

Write to them. Let them know we care.Statement by Leah-Lynn Plante http://vimeo.com/51103273 Partial list of resisters now in federal prisons: Write to them... let them know we care

GRAND JURY RESISTERS IN SEATTLE:

Katherine Olejnik
#42592-086
FDC SeaTac
PO Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198

Matthew Kyle Duran
#42565-086
FDC SeaTac
PO Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198


NATO 5:
Brent Betterly
#2012-0519001
PO Box 089002
Chicago IL 60608

Brian Church
#2012-0519002
PO Box 089002
Chicago IL 60608

Jared (Jay) Chase
#2012-0519003
PO Box 089002
Chicago IL 60608

Mark Neiweem
2012-0520023
PO Box 089002
Chicago IL 60608

Sebastian Senakiewicz
#2012-0520030
PO Box 089002
Chicago IL 60608


POST-NATO GRAND JURY INDICTMENT:
Danny Johnson
Cook Co. Dept. of Corrections
#2012-0730205
PO Box 089002
Chicago, IL 60608


ONE OF THE GULF PORT 7 (incarcerated since 12/12/11)
Eric Marquez
#12066004
Kays Tower
PO Box 660334
Dallas, TX 75266-0344

CLEVELAND 4:

Stephens, Connor (last name first required, & no glitter, stickers or illustrations... photos enclosed ok. I believe that Doug has pleaded, and been released)
#57978060
2240 Hubbard Rd.
Youngstown, OH 44505

Baxter, Brandon
#57972060
2240 Hubbard Rd.
Youngstown, OH 44505

Stafford, Joshu
a #57976060
2240 Hubbard Rd.
Youngstown, OH 44505

Wright, Douglas L.
#57973060
2240 Hubbard Rd.
Youngstown, OH 44505

Remember us when we're gone...

At some point, we're all gonna have to put our lives on the line... whether facing a life in prison, or death. By "all"... I mean, those who care, who have some sense of how far we've gone wrong. It's not a game. A wonderful night at the Ox... thinking how lucky I am to have come to this... and how much I've had to leave behind to be here. We have to remember what it was like... these moments before they come for us. And they will... Remember us... all of you who are left...

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Art: Just Compensation without Ownership

In that the artist's need for just compensation is in conflict with the need to free themselves and their work from capitalist commodification:

Terms of release from the artist or collective to the custodian into whose care the work is received.

Believing it is a violation of the human spirit to treat either a person or a work of art as a commodity--rather than offer our work as objects for sale, we will accept what we mutually agree to be fair compensation for our labor and time, and in return--in appreciation for your material support, you are free to accept this work as a custodial trust in perpetuity. At such time as you may choose to pass this work on to others, you will accept no more in compensation than the value of your initial contribution to the artist or collective from which you received it. You understand that in receiving this work, you pledge agreement with the principles and terms of this statement, and to never to treat it as an item for sale or use as an investment.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Beyond Language... at last

I can't quite get over how happy I am... to be holding a paint brush in my hand again after so many years... even it's mostly Mod Podge on the end of it. I love poetry... but I have a profound, unfathomably deep mistrust of language. So happy to be doing stuff without WORDS . I've read those who write say, Oh, I love language! But how can you write--and be conscious--and claim to 'love' language?" I write in part, because I so deeply mistrust language... even... hate it. But I love play. And playing with words is bliss... even if the words are poison. And they are.

Supporting Art Outside Capitalism

I've been thinking about alternative structures for compensating artists that would foreclose the possibility of comodification of their work. Start with an artist's collective. The Collective would assume all rights of use & exchange (ownership). An object would be 'rented' for perpetuity--the rent representing just compensation for the artist. the custodian (renter) would assume responsibility for reasonable care. The work could be exchanged (with notice given to the Collective and to the artist, with name of the successive renter and new location), but NOT sold. The custodian could receive as compensation only the amount of the original rent--there would be no profit; the object could not be treated as an investment over the initial rent. The artist & the Collective would retain right to display (shows, museums), and retain 'ownership' for perpetuity. Those interested in the art would be willing to offer fair compensation for the artist, for the enjoyment of the object. If their desire is to acquire an object for investment, they can look else where. What do you think?