Invitation to Participate in
“TWIN TOWERS OF DEMOCRACY”
Public Art, Civic Education Project
What do you believe it means to be an American? What makes you proud, ashamed, sad, angry, or hopeful? What historical
events and personages should we be more aware of? How does this history relate to current challenges for democracy?
This is your chance to express yourself and raise awareness through public art!
Individuals and groups are invited to contribute to a “Twin Towers of Democracy” and “City on a Hill”
public arts installation that will be viewed by thousands. All you need is some simple art materials, some boxes, and adventurous
attitude about exploring the theme. The project will be documented and moved to other public locations in an effort to build
popular democracy. Prizes and recognition will be awarded for outstanding creations.
Twin Towers of Democracy
People will be invited to express what they believe is worth “preserving and protecting” about America by making
additions (text, pictures, cartoons, artwork) to a wall adjoining a “Civil Liberties Tower” and ALSO express
what they feel “needs fixing” about America by making additions to a wall adjoining a “Citizen Action
Tower.”
The framework for the “Twin Towers of Democracy” was created with the assistance of area schoolchildren
using triple-stacked refrigerator boxes. The Civil Liberties Tower incorporates translucent “windows” imprinted
with the full text of the Bill of Rights. Children and adults created these windows by placing large sheets of tissue paper
over a commemorative plaque at Jones and Blount in downtown Raleigh and rubbing with colorful crayons. The other tower, represents
“Civil Protest”- another “pillar” of democracy. The colorful text on the Citizen Action Tower
is from rubbings of the commemorative plaque at the Martin Luther King Memorial Gardens which testifies to the importance
of social protest, including non-violent civil disobedience, in extending the legal protections of the Bill of Rights to all
Americans.
Does the human tragedy of the destruction of the World Trade Center justify the destruction of these Twin Towers of our
Democracy? The project is based on the hope that popular participation in civic life may help prevent this. Materials will
be on hand when the project is on display for people to spontaneously add words and pictures relating to the theme.
2. City on the Hill: “Buildings“ with Vignettes of Civil Struggles of “Peace Patriots”
Upon the founding of the Massachusetts Colony as a refuge from the repression experienced at the hands of European Monarchs,
Governor Winthrop wrote,
“We shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon us."
Americans should not be arrogant about our democratic institutions and historical struggles freedom. It is important to
remember, while celebrating and reflecting upon our traditions and history, to that people from countries throughout the world
can point to their own proud traditions. Because of our power and unique history, however, the eyes of the world are upon
us. The City Upon a Hill invites the public to help celebrate and elevate the civil, peaceful struggle
for freedom in the United States and throughout the world.
Surrounding the “Twin Towers” will be shorter “buildings” constructed of cardboard boxes that may
highlight particular persons, events, or issues (historical or contemporary, from U.S.A. or elsewhere) which relate to the
larger theme of freedom and democracy. Members of the public are invited to create their own box “buildings” to
contribute to the installation.
It has often been argued that foreign wars and restrictions of civil liberties have been necessary to defend American Freedoms.
But while appreciating and mourning the sacrifices borne by American soldiers, many have come to the conclusion that foreign
military entanglements have done more to harm than good to the cause of democracy and freedom at home and abroad. Also, while
there are many memorials to military leaders and war dead, there are relatively few monuments to those who in the face of
violence and repression have used non-violent means to change laws and institutions that have threatened or obstructed freedom
and democracy.
You can create an individual “tower” using a few boxes (i.e. recycled file or produce boxes), stacking them
and fastening them into a “tower” form, painting the structure (optional), and then affixing titles, text and
graphics to communicate your theme. The worldwide web is a rich source of material for quotations, historical vignettes, photographs,
cartoons and other graphics. Hand rendered artwork is wonderful, but using a photocopier or computer printer to enlarge text
and graphics is also easy and effective. Large text (i.e. 1 inch or taller lettering) will be easier for the browsing public
to read.
Civic groups or faith groups may use this as an opportunity to educate their members and the public about their own institutional
history. Ideally, the box “buildings” should be brought to the festival already constructed, but boxes and materials
will be available to create the building on site, and you may bring some pre-prepared materials to affix.
An easy way for youth (i.e. your faith group’s religious education class) to participate is to have them address
a sub-theme (i.e. what is worth preserving/needs fixing about America) in individual works, which can to a wall or building
at the festival.
For more information contact Roger Ehrlich , founder of PUBLIC ASSEMBLY and the “Peace Parasol Project“ at
(919) 881-8269 or ehrlichs@mindspring.com
