Working with a stellar group of top shelf American artists, People for the American Way just launched a new program, "Enough of Trump," based on a simple concept: artists using art to convey what they have had “enough” of in the Trump era and to inspire the public to vote in November. The issues driving artists’ response to Trump include his inflaming of racial tensions, encouraging violent and deadly policing, and his failure to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan is to put up billboards 3 swing states: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, like this Shepard Fairey piece, Enough Monarchy, We Need Democracy! 2020The launch includes works by Carrie Mae Weems, whose concept was key to the project, Shepard Fairey, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Jeffrey Gibson, Mark Thomas Gibson, Deborah Kass, Christine Sun Kim, Takaaki Matsumoto, Amalia Mesa-Bains, Beverly McIver, Sam Messer, Ed Ruscha, Alyson Shotz, Hank Willis Thomas, and Cayetano Valenzuela.by LaToya Ruby FrazierBen Jealous, president of People for the American Way told the media that "This project couldn’t be more timely. Our country is in crisis over the racial injustice, economic disaster and public health emergency that have all been amplified and exacerbated by Donald Trump. The 'Enough of Trump' campaign captures this moment through art in a way that is both unique and complementary to the activism going on in the streets."PFAW explained that. "The campaign aims to motivate people across the country, especially in the key Electoral College swing states, to share and create 'Enough'-themed art and to get involved in advocacy and electoral organizing that will ultimately lead to defeating Trump in November. As it unfolds, it will include creative opportunities for the public to engage in creating their own works to deliver the messages of 'Enough' and 'Vote.' Plans include displaying the messages on union halls, at protests, on face masks, on billboards, and on store windows shuttered by COVID. The campaign website, which features a gallery of downloadable images of the artworks, links to volunteer and activism opportunities across the country, resources for getting registered to vote, and a portal to purchase artworks, can be found here. In the coming months, in-person and digital engagement opportunities will include exhibits, webinars, opportunities to join artists online as they engage in the creative process, participatory public events to transform outdoor spaces with the 'Enough of Trump' theme, community-building activities on social media, distribution of 'Enough' themed merchandise and more."by Ed RuschaCarrie Mae Weems: "Artists have played a leading role in social change movements for centuries. In creating art that expresses what we have had ‘enough’ of in the Trump era, we can address the corruption, ignorance, and racism that are so devastating to so many of us. I add my voice alongside many other artists to say definitively that we reject Trump and all that he stands for. Enough is ENOUGH." by Carrie Mae Weens
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