public projections

When I arrived at my RISD class last night, there were mysterious projections of huge bold letters coming out of the canal water and rising up the side of the building. The messages were charged politically and sorta whimsical at the same time. The artist responsible for the LED light projections was presenting her work in a lecture tonight. J and I went to listen in the packed RISD auditorium. Her name is Jenny Holzer and she has a masters of fine art in painting, but took what she called a break to anonymously publish her "truisms" in public places. When she was in her twenties she would find unique ways to post her succinct messages. Like at a base ball game on the big screen she would post: "Raise boys and girls in the same way". Or on the electronic board at the baggage claim in Las Vegas she posted: "Money creates taste". She then moved into etching into stone benches that she would place in many places. She's done work all over Europe with Keith Haring, memorial and anti memorials including a black garden with all black plants and stone wall messages, and floor tiles in unique places. She's shown her electronic scroll messages on the curved ramps at the Guggenheim. Her work over the past ten years includes LED light projections in public out door locations. She typically projects onto buildings, like the Louvre, Rockefeller Center, and Hotel Pennsylvania (most of which she couldn't believe they gave her permission to do it). Most of her projections are what she refers to as inflammatory messages. Last night in Providence was the first time she projected onto a city hall. Here are some of the messages that amused/provoked me:

"Spit all over someone with a mouth full of milk if you want to learn something about their personality fast."
"The mouth is interesting because it is one of those places where the dry outside moves toward the slippery inside."
"It can be helpful to think of them eating their favorite foods, vomiting, and getting bits stuck in their nose."
"Protect me from what I want."
"The conversation always turns to living long enough to have fun."

Here are some photos I took on Monday night of the projection on Westminster street across from my class at RISD. These photos don't show the real impact.