I remember the first time I caught a glimpse of The Facade Project on Western Ave., as I was stopped at a red light underneath the brown line tracks. I hadn’t been in Chicago long and didn’t know who was responsible or what the building was, but clearly the black & white grid of faces mounted on the windows was meant to remind the rest of us that there were a lot of dead soldiers in Iraq. It was hard to look away. Compelling in its blunt simplicity, the Facade Project is an unhappy reminder delivered in the form of a thoughtful art piece.

Poet Jennifer Karmin believes it’s an artist’s responsibility to remind people what is happening in the world, and show them how to think about these things in new ways. For 4000 WORDS 4000 DEAD, she’s collecting 4000 words for a public poem to read aloud at Looptopia this weekend, then she’ll distribute the words to passing pedestrians. Says Karmin, "For Looptopia, I want to literally bring this war back home to people in the United States and create a memorial for the dead. In an era where we don’t see images of our dead — of body bags and coffins, I think the number 4000 is a smack of reality."

Art & politics don’t always mix well. But politics can be powerful inspiration, and projects like 4000 WORDS, 4000 DEAD can be a more convincing & effective form of protest than, say, confrontational marchers waving "fuck bush" signs, who often alienate people with their anger instead of giving them something to think about. Agree? Then contribute to 4000 WORDS: Karmin will be taking submissions until Wednesday, April 30. And check out the reading at Looptopia on May 2, where Karmin will also be performing her companion piece to 4000 WORDS 4000 DEAD, Revolutionary Optimism.

Friday, May 2nd
5pm beginning in front of the Vietnam War Memorial
Wabash & Wacker along the Chicago River

8:30pm ending at the DePaul Center
1 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL

SUBMISSION DEADLINE
*April 30, 2008

SUBMIT:
*Send 1 - 10 words

CONTACT:
*Email submission with subject 4000 WORDS
to jkarmin@yahoo.com