Dedicated to critical cultural production at the intersection of art and activism.

Neal White and the Office of Experiments will police London’s Peckham Square this June 21-28 with your best interest in mind.

Image courtesy of Peckham Space

That week, a kiosk will appear in the square, not dissimilar to other security structures to the average observant, but rather than surveil, its attendant will talk to the public about civil liberties,

inviting responses to the phenomenon of public surveillance in Britain and distributing local information suggesting “alternative ways to navigate the environment.”

Made possible by Peckham Space, Limitations Permitted extends to include a public talk, “Civil Liberties and Art,” and films by Manu Luksch and FLIX about privacy regulations, seen through view finders.

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UPDATE: It seems our friend Josh from Just Seeds was also a participant.  If you know of other artists involved, please let us know in the comment section!

PublicAdCampaign.com’s Jordan Seiler recounted the events of April 25th, 2009, with just a few words: “Something happened yesterday, an eye for an eye…”

The New York Street Advertising Takeover (NYSAT) organized approximately 80 artists and other participants to whitewash 120 billboards that operate illegally in New York, which they used as canvasses.  Attached to each billboard was a fake warning note, shown here, that declared NYC’s Department of Buildings had deemed the billboards illegal, and scheduled the whitewashing.  Real Municipal Landscape Control Committee contacts were used.

Four arrests followed from this act of civil disobedience cum vigilante justice: 2 whitewashers, one artist, and one videographer. The charges of criminal mischief, which the DA has since reduced to disorderly conduct, are being challenged.

Barbara Celis, a journalist that writes for the Spanish language newspaper El Pais, broke the story, and has posted details that the Posterboy and Enjoy Banking crews were involved, with many pictures from the action.

To summarize, Seiler again:

More than about art, this project was about public participation in the visual construction of their shared environment.

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In celebration of their 20th anniversary, the Center for the Study of Political Graphics will produce a limited edition portfolio with 3-5 silkscreen posters, selected from pool of competition entrants. The call for poster design entries can be found here.

Winning designs will be reproduced in an edition of 125 silkscreen prints. Winning artists will receive 20% of the print run and a complete portfolio. Paper or digital submissions will be accepted and multiple entries are welcome. There are no geographic limitations.

Entries must use fewer than four colors, and address “a critical issue facing our communities today.” The deadline for submission is June 30, 2009.

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What are the images that we associate with climate change? Where are the inspiring designs that might instigate change or revolution?

On May 10th, Boston’s South End, Platform2 and Richard DaVies will team up for an afternoon workshop using digital media and silkscreen techniques to critically analyze, deconstruct and revision icons of climate change in the media.

Polar bears… Melting glaciers… Pine groves… Green arrows… Blue skies…Stranded penguins… Al Gore… Parched earth… Powerpoint… Sprouted seedlings… Reusable bags… Let’s come up with a new visual language that will help to change the world!

Together, participants will create Creative Commons-licensed materials to be indexed in an online archive, and published in an edition of artists books.

Further details are available here – say hello if you’re coming by!

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My grandfather passed away this afternoon, and there won’t be any Groundswell posts until next week.  Please check back then!

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