Posted on the New Yorker website yesterday:

Purple Prose

Yesterday afternoon in downtown Denver, about a hundred gay, lesbian, and transgendered volunteers recited, in unison, a ten-minute speech titled “Revolutionary Love, Part I: I Am Your Worst Fear,” written by the New York performance artist Sharon Hayes. An equal-opportunity artist, Hayes will stage a sequel near the Minnesota State Capitol building in St. Paul next week, titled “Revolutionary Love II: I Am Your Best Fantasy.” The text itself was unavailable at press time, but according to a statement issued by Creative Time and the Walker Art Center, which co-produced the events:

Hayes’s performances are designed to mirror the spectacular nature of the national conventions. Reacting against the tendency of groups to polarize feelings about homosexuality for political gain, she describes these performances as personal addresses to the power structure, or a group of people speaking their hearts as one.

via Andrea Scott, The New Yorker

Sharon Hayes’ Revolutionary Love 2: I Am Your Best Fantasy is presented by Creative Time with the Walker Art Center and the UnConvention. Revolutionary Love 2: I Am Your Best Fantasy is a part of Democracy in America, a national public art initiative organized by Creative Time.

Substance presents

Beyond the Convention, Beyond Partisanship: A daylong festival propelling a new wave of progressive action outside the RNC.

September 2nd, 2008, 12:30-7pm

Minnesota State Capitol Lawn, St. Paul, MN

Featuring Michael Franti, Dead Prez, Anti-Flag, Wookie Foot w/Matisyahu, Medea Benjamin (co-founder of CODEPINK and Global Exchange), Will Steger (arctic explorer and global warming activist), DJ K-Salaam, I Self Devine, Tru Ruts showcase, Indigo, B. Dolan and Prolyphic, the Sustainable Living Roadshow, and more.

Sponsored by Global Exchange, Backbone Campaign, Will Steger Foundation, Campus Progress, Knowmore.org, Oxfam America, YAWR, Liberator Magazine, Thrifty Hipster, Equal Exchange, The Green Institute, OutFront MN, 7 Corners Printing, CODEPINK, and more.

On September 2nd 2008, 7-10,000 people will gather at the Minnesota State Capitol Mall to engage in trainings, education, community building, music and art in the name of positive social and environmental change.

With the attention of the nation on St. Paul, RIPPLE EFFECT will go beyond the convention and beyond partisanship to further the already burgeoning global movement for sustainability, justice and equality.

Organized by Substance, a young nonprofit founded by three progressives in their early 20’s, RIPPLE EFFECT will create partnerships with a diverse team of local and national organizations to provide a catalyst that will unite activists, engage youth and demonstrate positive action.

Their work is not finished, however, as they have yet to meet their fundraising goal. To keep the event free and open to all, they are raising money organically through individual donations, name-your-own-price tickets, and sponsorships from like-minded companies.

* Your contribution will make this event possible. Get your tickets at www.rippleeffect08.com. To donate via paypal, click here! Contact info@livewithsubstance.org for more information. Thanks!

Free and Open to All | A Green and Zero-Waste Event.

www.rippleeffect08.com | www.livewithsubstance.org

Great article in today’s Strib:

“The Republican convention is in the Twin Cities this week, but unless you’re someone special, you haven’t been invited to that party.

“Hoping not to be left out, the Twin Cities arts community has devised a plan for “unscripting the political process.” Hence its plan for what is being called the UnConvention.

“As the name implies, it’s an unconventional way to look at political issues through a week of concerts, parades, art exhibitions and various participatory events. Under the UnConvention umbrella are individual artists as well as such larger organizations as the Walker and Intermedia Arts. While it’s definitely political, its organizers have set out to be nonpartisan.”

Nightlife: Political party
By TOM HORGEN, Star Tribune
Last update: August 28, 2008 - 4:28 PM

read more