billboard: "Dang it feels good to be a gangsterer" pic of smirk

[donsu]

http://www.nuvo.net/archive/2004/12/15/politics_passion_property.html





Politics, passion & property
Anti-Bush billboard causing turmoil


What started as a series of political statements by local billboard artists has expanded into a controversy involving the Federal Election Commission and sparked a debate on the nature of politics, art and the use of property.
The current incarnation of the politically charged billboard series visible from the freeway

A lightning rod of the controversy is a sign featuring a grinning image of George W. Bush offering the thumbs-up with the words “Dang, it feels good to be a gangsterer!” printed above. The current billboard on the side of a large brick building at 922 Massachusetts Ave. is clearly visible from the I-65/I-70 freeway interchange.

-snip-

Battista said the billboards are part of a billboard art group his daughter helped form called Your Art Here, and that he donated space on two of his Massachusetts Avenue properties as platforms for their art.

“I’m involved in the art program in Mass. Ave.,” Battista said. “This to me is an extension of that. It’s another way to get a different kind of art in Mass. Ave., to help revitalize downtown.”

Your Art Here’s billboards have showcased a variety of different themes in the last few years, including “Flatland: Billboards at the Crossroads of America” and the “Billboard Generation” series of work by young artists. The politically-themed billboards began running in September as part of the “Patriotic Art Series.”

Complaints from other area residents — not Yarema — brought the matter to the attention of the city and eventually the Federal Election Commission.

-snip-

Mundy said that Your Art Here, which is organized as a non-profit organization in the state of Indiana in order to protect themselves on a legal level, has received a largely positive set of responses. He said that they are aware of only a single complaint to the FEC.

“Essentially what it boils down to is that someone tried to take away our freedom of speech because he didn’t like what we were saying,” Mundy said.
-snip-
--------------------------------

[Sydnie]

1. I LOVE that !! Thanks for sharing it n/t

[donsu]

4. dig your Women With Grit and the dandylion - a lovely plant

we are everywhere

[ET Awful]

2. LOL . . . Nice sign :)

Too bad the occupants of the building have to take the flack from the ignorant louts that get pissed off by it though :(

[Jo March]

3. Now that is what I call art. :)

nt

[Deb]

5. This billboard has a real public service message

Art is a wonderful thing.

[Moderator]

6. donsu

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thank you.


DU Moderator

[bloom]

7. Glad to see that happening in Indianapolis.

:bounce: