A lot of loose ends came together for Overpass Light Brigade's outdoor debut of new JOHN DOE signs which refer, of course, to the continuing investigation into Scott Walker's involvement in illegal campaigning while he served as Milwaukee County Executive. Volunteer Holders of the Lights came in from as far away as Madison and Racine, with old friends from Milwaukee included, so I knew it would be a good evening. I was eager to get some pictures of our signs in front of the iconic Calatrava-designed building, and the night promised nothing but murmurs of gentle springtime beauty, with the backdrop of the velvet lake on the east and the lit curtain of urban architecture on the west.
The wonderful crash/chaos marching band, The Milwaukee Molotov Marchers joined us, with the idea of playing marching music to the passing cars below. We've been wanting to collaborate for quite a while, so this was welcome news. The fact that it was a "community-building" event for the museum, "MAM After Dark" added to the festivity of casual foot traffic.
A media-activist from Occupy Riverwest arrived to live stream the event, which was very cool. On top of that, the art critic for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel informed me that she would be there to cover the event. To put it mildly, this whole thing is gaining some momentum. Lots of people came out to hold, to photograph, or just to chat. The warming weather significantly changes the dynamics of our enterprise...
After some posed shots, The Holders and their marching musical accompaniment made their way onto the elegant bridge-way. I descended to street level to get some good photos.
The accidental traces of night-time photography never cease to amaze me. Here the ghost of JOHN DOE rises skyward, hovering over Milwaukee in the same way that Walker's past corruption now hovers over him.
Badscience took this amazing photo, where JOHN DOE drops in Perseid shower, raining light from the camera of the night. At this point, I saw MAM security approach on the bridge above. I walked up from ground level, and found a bit of tension. We were told the bridge was private property and we had to leave. Our stalwart marchers didn't want to leave. There was a bit of a deadlock. I talked with the head of security, mentioning that I was a respected artist around town, that we had the art critic for the local paper there, and did they really want to have the story out about us getting kicked off the bridge for playing music and holding beautiful and famous signs during "community outreach night?" Though it made the young man visibly nervous, it didn't sway him, because we were "campaigning" and it was private property. We had to leave, or he would call the police.
I responded, "We are about joy, art and beauty. We are not here to create conflict..." at which point the Molotov Marchers kicked into a rousing tune, and we all marched off the bridge, past the dedication plaque which reads "Bridging Art and Life."
Then something wonderful and strange happened. We regrouped in a little (public) urban parkway that feeds into the bridge. We brought out all of our other signs, and lit them up and placed them against fencing, just for fun. People began to play Activist Scrabble, recombining words and phrases, laughing, taking pictures, making suggestions. Passersby joined in, some little kids helped. Our crew was running around, substituting an "E" for an "L", turning a "W" upside down to serve as a good "M." I almost expected to see Vanna White show up to hand out the prizes!
Here are some examples of Rabble Scrabble:
The night was a blast... it is so great to see so many people come out for joyful political, artistic, and musical activism which gets our message out and also pushes at the freedoms and restrictions of public assembly within a landscape dominated by privatization, authority and control.
I am left with only one gripe. Because of those darned Milwaukee Molotov Marchers I have The Specials' "A Message To You, Rudy" dug into my mind like that burrowing ear-thingy that Ricardo Montalban used to control Chekov in the Wrath of Kahn.
After you watch this video that Kossack badscience put together, you will be cursing me as I curse them!