Artist: Mel Chin et Al
Title: Operation Pay Dirt/ Fundred Dollar Bill Project
(pg 127)
Date: 2006 –
What: The artist goes around to schools, originally
starting in New Orleans before branching out through the country, having
children make “Fundred Dollar Bills” from premade templates. These fake bills
are then organized and placed into armored cars that have been modified to run
on vegetable waste oil. The bills are delivered to congress.
Why: On a post Katrina visit to New Orleans Mel Chin
discovered that the soil contained 4 times as much lead as deemed safe. He also
discovered that the government had known about it before Katrina and had no
plan to correct it. It was said to contribute to the epidemic of lead poisoning
that 30% youth in the area have suffered. He has stated his main concern is
awareness.
Accomplishments: Mel Chin has raised a lot of awareness through
out the country. In 2010 his “fundred dollar bill” trucks traveled nation wide
and collected around 400,000 fake bills to send to congress. He has also begun
to implement a neutralization process in New Orleans and is backed by the EPA
in Oakland, CA.
Artist: Fallen Fruit (David Burns & Austin Young)
Title: Public Fruit Jam (pg 150)
Date: 2006 –
What: Burns and Young mapped out fruit trees within a
five-block radius of their homes. They then provided the maps to the public and
encouraged them to pick the fruit. LA property laws are unclear on the ownership
of these trees when then exceed the property lines such as hanging over a
fence. This is then is used to make jam as a social event in markets galleries
and museums.
Why: Public Fruit Jam is a social commentary on the
way people today socialize as well as the relationship between the wealthy and
less fortunate.
Similarities:
- Both rely heavily on participation from the
outside community
- Both speak on the idea of who has the upper hand
in the idea that the government didn’t choose to correct the lead and the
stereotypical idea of the wealthy.
Differences:
- Mel Chin works as a single artist while Fallen
Fruit is a collaboration
- Operation Pay Dirt was about political reform in
the environmental care for New Orleans. Public Fruit Jam was a less forward and
aggressive way to comment on the idea of those who hold power.
