A PUBLIC ART PROJECT BY SUZANNE BROUGHEL

KEEP HOPE ALIVE ALIVE

In this public art project, free “campaign” buttons are given out to pedestrians. They feature vintage designs from past Black presidential candidates, altered to remove the candidate's name and image.  With only slogans and graphics remaining, these buttons conflate history with the present to become ruminations on race, gender, idealism, and cynicism.  Along with the button, each recipient also receives a flyer detailing the erased information.  Below is the flyer information for each button.  Click on the candidate's name to learn more about their campaign.

Originating in 2008, just prior to Barack Obama's nomination as the Democratic candidate, this project is being revisited during the 2012 campaign.  View the original project

here

Part of the 8th annual Art in Odd Places Festival

Guest Lead Curated by Edwin Ramoran. Joined by Guest Curators: Raquel de Anda, Christine Licata, Salley May, Shaun Wright; & Curatorial Assistant John Wenrich.
Festival Producer, Sarah Brozna
 Founder/Director, Ed Woodham  artinoddplaces.org

RUN RUN

This is an altered graphic from a vintage Jesse Jackson political button.  Jackson made bids for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.  The orignial button reads "Run Jesse Run!".

CATALYST FOR CHANGE

This is an altered graphic from a vintage Shirley Chisholm political button. Chisholm made a bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1972.  The center of the original button reads "Shirley Chisholm for President" in large blue letters.

FOLLOW THE RAINBOW

This is an altered graphic from a vintage Jesse Jackson political button.  Jackson made bids for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.  Overlaying the rainbow image on the original button are the words "Jackson for President in 1984".

TO REPRESENT ALL AMERICANS

This is an altered graphic from a vintage Shirley Chisholm political button.  Chisholm made a bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in1972.  The original button features a photo of Chisholm in the center, above which are the words "Shirley Chisholm for President".

MAKING MIRACLES

This is an altered graphic from a vintage Jesse Jackson political button.  Jackson made bids for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.  The original button features the words "Jesse Jackson '88" in the center of the map of Texas.

KEEP HOPE ALIVE

This is an altered graphic from a vintage Jesse Jackson political button.  Jackson made bids for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.  The original button features a photo of Jackson alongside his campaign slogan.