For the first time ever, New York City is faced with a historic crisis of homelessness. There are more than 41,000 homeless men, women and children sleeping in New York City shelters tonight -- the largest number ever. This includes a staggering 17,000 children -- kids whose lives will forever be altered by the hardships of homelessness.
Last week, Mayor Bloomberg and his administration announced plans to close access to shelters for thousands of vulnerable homeless New Yorkers, by implementing new bureaucratic barriers to enter the shelter system. The Coalition for the Homeless and its allies are leading the legal fight against these dangerous new barriers.
I am honored to contribute a small part to ending this epidemic and supporting the Coalition's efforts, by participating in the Robert Rauschenberg's inaugural 'Artist as Activist' Print Project. The project champions Rauschenbergʼs legacy of using art as a vehicle for social and political change. In carrying forward his tradition, the Foundation has chosen the Coalition for the Homeless as the beneficiary for the pilot year of the project.
I created an original print for the project -- The Future Is Unwritten. The work evolved from several points of inspiration. Visually, the piece takes cues from the idealized styles of Art Nouveau and Art Deco. These art movements just proceeded, and crossed into, the Great Depression, an era that saw a tremendous social aid effort under Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The text, "The Future Is Unwritten," is a quote from Joe Strummer of the punk group The Clash, who was a dedicated advocate for the working class. The flower growing from the barbed wire is symbolic of the negative being overcome by the positive -- a visual metaphor for hope in the unwritten future. The text "LIBERTY, SHELTER, and EQUALITY" refers to values, if not rights, that most people see as universally important. I see liberty as a right that fosters independence and self-determination, but which must be balanced by social responsibility and compassion for the less fortunate. It is only possible for society to evolve in a positive direction with a healthy balance of honoring both the needs of the individual, and promoting basic human rights and equality of the collective.
Robert Rauschenberg was one of my inspirations as an artist, both for the subject of his work, and his support of some of the most important humanitarian issues of his time, including apartheid, nuclear disarmament, economic development, population control, and artistsʼ rights.
The Artist as Activist program honors Robert Rauschenbergʼs legacy of creating prints and posters to heighten awareness of crucial issues and to raise funds to advance humanitarian, international and environmental goals. Rauschenberg exemplified the role of "Artist as Activist," as he consistently dedicated his art-making toward issue awareness and philanthropic support.
A limited series of 100 prints of The Future is Unwritten was printed using Rauschenberg's original print equipment in his studio in Captiva.
Prints are available for sale through Artnet Auctions, at http://www.artnet.com/auctions/shepard-fairey-prints-sale-for-charity.
Enid Borden: Will You Still Need Me? Will You Still Feed Me?*
David Noriega: Program to Keep Homeless Out of Shelters Terminated
Bonnie Stone: New York's Homeless Left Behind in Governor's Budget
NYC Department of Homeless Services - NYC.gov
City Aids Homeless With One-Way Tickets Home - New York Times
A Night on the Streets With the City's Homeless -- New York Magazine
Humanity has come a long way from surivial...............we have created complex societies, technology and have used, consumed mother earth for short term profits.
Its time to shift the paradigm - back to WE - community based values and the sharing of resources to promote human wellness and human development while respecting the planet we reside.
Let's not forget that "the little people" of the Earth are part of the collective too.
http://ecocosmology.blogspot.com/2011/10/on-new-meaning-of-human.html
the real needs of men are more than just a paycheck and a job. What about a society which focuses on human development? We haven't realized the full potential of the human condition, how many people are actually happy and enjoy healthy social relations? How many people can study the literary, scientific and philosophical classics which help navigate the moral questions that societies are based upon? I studied anthropology searching for the conditions of human nature, while economist dictate on anecdotal evidence what is best for the human race because of what?
We have a world soon to be at 9 billion people, how will we employ them? with technology rapidly taking away all the old jobs there wont be any new ones even from the service sector without artificially inventing a problem in products through obsolescence. We will reach a time where a world financial economy is almost impossible
Jobs and paychecks are a means for finding happiness and develop individual potential. The desire to earn more allows individuals to menial tasks to others giving time to develop ones studies. Unfortunately most are more concerned with American Idol and other trivial matters, but then choices are the individuals and they enjoy the result of their choices.
Who determines the needs of men? The government or the man? Who determines the course of society? The government or man? Should we accept the course Bush put us on, or is Obama's better? Maybe we should change courses again and elect Sarah Pailin or Rick Perry? Or maybe the best changes are made at local levels with the states determining the social needs of their citizens and have 50 states experimenting to figure out what is right by blending what works in other states?
What can make sure people have jobs - Capitalism and access to free markets.
However, they remain quite within their rights to march. All night if necessary.
"The Clash"
The figure on the left is balanced precariously on a pile of ledgers. Whilst the individual on the right, is supported by the accumulated insights of humanity.
Mayor Bloomberg: “I don’t understand what I’m looking at”
By George! He’s got it.
Then, if one wants to adopt the notion or destiny or fate or karma to their own personal life (as I do), then they can.
"Collective" actions, which take from those who are doing the right thing to bail out those who are doing the wrong thing, are counter-progressive. Creating demand for bad behaviors by subsidizing them is counter-evolutionary. You get what you pay for.