Artist Billboards and Alien Vending Machine Show During DNC

Carrie Mae Weems is one of six artists who created billboards showing in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention. Autumn Breon took a different approach.

Rapper Common and singer Patti LaBelle performed at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last night. Visual artists are also making contributions, with six artist billboards installed by For Freedoms around the city for the occasion.

Among them is a billboard by Carrie Mae Weems, which reads, 'with democracy in the balance there is only one choice'.

The billboard was installed in partnership with the Movement Voter Fund, an organisation tasked with advancing 'democracy, equity, and sustainability'.

Billboards by Weems and the other artists—Christine Wong Yap, Ebony G. Patterson, Koyoltzinlti Miranda-Rivadeneira, Slow and Steady Wins the Race, and Jake Troyli—will remain on view through the end of October.

Also in Chicago during the convention is Autumn Breon's Care Machine (2023). The vending machine is stocked with the items Black women named when Breon asked them 'what items represent and provide care?' It's stocked with condoms, tampons, pads, edge control, braiding hair, abortion pill resources, and books, all free of charge.

Breon offers a sci-fi backstory for her mixed media sculpture, which she says originated on the planet Esoterica, over 300 light-years from Inglewood.

'In direct response to a recent distress signal from planet Earth, a glowing pink monolith from Esoterica appeared on Crenshaw Boulevard. This otherworldly curio has taken the form of a vending machine.'

Care Machine will travel to Indianapolis, St Louis, and Los Angeles later this year.

The Democratic National Convention continues through 22 August. —[O]