Sheryl Oring is a live artist; she performs in public areas to raise awareness on issues having to do with language and the First Amendment. Very political in nature, she uses passing people to relay messages about American politics and the lack of personal voice in the American government. I Wish To Say is an ongoing project in which the artist dresses up as a 1960s secretary (big hair and all) and takes to the street with a manual typewriter and stack of paper. Audiences participate in the production by dictating messages to Oring who then sends these postcards to the President.
The Birthday Project is similar in nature, having audiences attend the traveling birthday party that Oring was throwing for President George W. Bush's 60th birthday. Birthday greetings and insight into what Americans thought of the President's roles thus far in his presidency were mailed out, and the correspondences helped get a better picture of the country's perception of GW.
Oring's performances are important because they draw attention to the fact that the individual American doesn't often have the chance to be a part of policy making and is often overlooked. With current legislation, such as SOPA, avocation for the First Amendment is that much more important so that the citizens of a free country do not lose the right to trade information and opinions freely. Negativity can be the spark that gets a revolution going, but expressing opinions is an important right that history has taught us that we must hold on to.
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