DISHING IT OUT 2016 is a 10-month series of socially engaging art events, organized and curated by Diane Bush, a globally published and exhibited artist, from Buffalo, N.Y., now living in Las Vegas. The goal is to entertain, while encouraging involvement in our political process by holding monthly art exhibits and events leading up to a cheeky patriotic art carnival and final November exhibit. The project will culminate after polls close on November eighth. That night, at 7:00 p.m. the doors will open to the last exhibit called “The Final Tally”, where artists and art aficionados can watch the election night results come in, amidst art and Mexican culinary delights. While enjoying the humor that political satire provides, this project is brazenly promoting Free Speech, registering voters, and helping the public deal with pre -presidential election stress.
Having grown up politically active during the late 60s, and having been hounded by the F.B.I. for her activism, a kitschy Presidential souvenir plate impressed Ms. Bush as a new means of expression. “I was inspired to revisit my 2008 political event “The ImBLEACHment of George W. Bush”, but instead, decided to hold a patriotic art carnival in where the public can smash commemorative art plates, in a campy atmosphere”.
For diversification, Bush invited artists across the nation to create work in any medium, representing each candidate for possible fabrication as ceramic plates, as well as artwork about American politics. Because artists were not overly enthusiastic about depicting candidate drop outs, the seven limited edition sets (16 plates each) produced from submitted art will represent the NUMBER of original candidates, and not necessarily the candidates themselves.
September 2, 2016: HOGGING THE MIC, will be a Las Vegas First Friday event for poets to participate in DISHING IT OUT 2016. Poets were invited to submit limericks, haiku, and poems, to be read out the public, with trophies and prizes awarded. At the same time, the project will “Dish Out” food to the homeless, by accepting canned donations. Also, we will register new voters, sell raffle tickets for plates, and distribute invites to the last two events, while poems, limericks, and haiku are recited. Helen Ruggieri, an internationally recognized poetess from New York, is the juror.
October 7, 2016: At the Las Vegas First Friday carnival, “Let America BREAK Again” folks can smash plates (or not) and keep the results. Abandoned shards will be donated to a community FREE SPEECH mosaic. Simultaneously, there will be patriotic music, poets, Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty will pose for pictures, while face painting, and food trucks will round out the scene. Rock the Vote volunteers will ask participants to register, (as they have at every exhibit and event) and encourage them to vote. Las Vegas is one-third Hispanic, and many are just reaching voting age. Plus, it all gets videotaped.
November 8, 2016: “THE FINAL TALLY”, art exhibit at UV gallery, 1007 Main St., Las Vegas, 89107. Doors open on Election night, one minute after the polls close at 7pm, where guests (open to the public) watch election results roll in, as they immerse themselves in the best of submitted artwork throughout the 10-month long project. Mexican food will be served, and the raffle ticket for a set of artist -made plates will be drawn.
Contact:
Diane Bush, Artist
Phone: 702-502-7220
Address: D.B.A., 3750 Grandview Place, Las Vegas, NV 89120
Email: dianebush@cox.net
Website: www.dianebush.net
