"Earth First" and mostly obscured "Leave Less Behind For The Future" (you can see it carved in close up)
Judy Bary was an Earth First activist and labor organizer. She made the connection between middle class environmentalists and working class loggers. In 1991 Earth First was going to do civil disobediance in Northern California. Earth First had been branded as individualist macho stuff -- people who spike trees. A week or two before the action was scheduled a bomb exploded in her car. Judy's pelvis was destroyed, yet they handcuffed her in her hospital bed. Judy Barry was smeared as a terrorist, an instigator goaded her into putting on camoflage and holding a toy gun, a photo of which was later used in the paper. 20 years after COINTELPRO was supposed to have died. They never looked for assassins, even though Judy had many death threats. Richard Hele was the head of FBI office in San Francisco. There are two of them that go by the same name, one older, one younger, both motherfuckers. He set up Geronimo Pratt in '70's, he's one of the major cointelpro guys. When Judy filed civil suit with earth first against the FBI, Hele retired. Despite that Judy Barry is an example of someone who resists. A month later she was walking even though the doctor said she'd never walk again. A determination to fight and resist at all odds. A piece that updates the cointelpro. Not stuck in 60's or 70's, it's still with us.
This is also me trying to be affirmative, someone who is successfully resisting. Microphone is mass media image, shows this is a public figure. Falls into trap of idealization and mythical figure. Starting to play with oil paint instead of charcoal or chalk. Shift toward fine art. More integrating words and letters. Less clean and slick, looking more raw. Multiple layers of billboards coming off. Actually five layers of paper, torn through intentionally. Looks petrified. Original ad - Leave Less Behind For The Future, with a trash bag there. What if it was clear cut trees? Or a clean plate? Leave less resources behind? What if it was an environmental activist up there? It ends up meaning leave less trash behind.
