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Submitted: January 21
Image Size: 1.0 MB
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Make:HTC
Model:Eris
ISO Speed:100
Date Taken:Jan 24, 2011, 7:52:55 PM
Software:Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery 6.0.6001.18000

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Project 34by ~epyon5

Traditional Art / Street Art / Stencils

For awhile I had access to a large warehouse studio. I utilized it for one of my biggest endeavors, PROJECT 34. Below is a brief synopsis of the project.

Due to budgetary constraints the Mayor of Gary Indiana, Rudy Clay, laid of 30 firefighters on New Years Eve. (4 having been laid off prior) All delusions aside, times are tough everywhere. The economy is a disaster and people get laid off. That is a sad fact of life. What is appalling in this instance though, is the fact that the Mayor has used money from taxpayers to purchase a Hummer for use as his own personal mode of transportation. (despite his $113,000 a year salary)

In addition to this, Mayor Clay has spearheaded a project to build a Michael Jackson Memorial/Museum/Mega/Auditorium at the estimated expense of $300 million. It has been stated that this amount of money will not come from tax payers but private investors. However, if Mayor Clay has the time, effort, and ability to secure that amount of money from investors... surely he could have done something to save a few jobs for those who are actually willing to die on the job saving the city.

Artist epyon5 has chosen to commemorate and memorialize those who have lost their jobs by creating 34 life sized stenciled works of firefighters (each with it's own number) and will place them randomly throughout the city of Gary Indiana. These works not only serve to honor those men and women who are now unemployed, but to also remind Mayor Clay and his administration of what they've done, and could have prevented had they not mismanaged funds for personal gain and enjoyment.

~NextGoRound Jan 25, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

So much love for this project.

~Chamjari Jan 23, 2013

Total Here! Here! on this.
Also, why a Hummer? A hard maintence tacky car/truck/bluh.
FYI: the price of a hummer will hire one sexy ninja body guard for almost a year.

~KidXister Jan 22, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

I've never been to Gary, but I heard from family who live there that it's a pretty poor city. Once this auditorium is built who will be able to afford to go there? Certainly not those fire fighters. Something needs to be done about these corrupt politicians, we are their employers, we hired them to do a job, and we pay them. Yet they abuse their power, any other job they would have been fired on the spot. I really hope this project opens up peoples eyes, and this situation gets fixed.

~epyon5 Jan 23, 2013

I lived there for 6 years. It is poor, but there are a lot of good people there who try to do what they can to make it better. Despite the urban decay, it is an architectural dream with many amazing buildings and homes. You just have to look. Rudy Clay is no longer the mayor and his dream of building an auditorium has passed. The firefighters we're eventually rehired due to a grant that came in.

~KidXister Jan 24, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

That's awesome,I'm so glad they got their jobs back.

~writerbryce1980 Jan 22, 2013 Hobbyist Artist

Brilliant and purposeful. Love it. Wish I were in Gary to see this.

~epyon5 Jan 23, 2013

They didn't last long

They were spray painted on cardboard to make it easier to put them up as the objective was to place them as close to city hall as possible. That way the mayor could see them as he drove to and from work. Most didn't eve last 24 hours. I guess somebody didn't like them to much

*abcartattack Jan 21, 2013 Traditional Artist

Well done project

*TheArtofBlouh Jan 21, 2013 Hobbyist

I'm sure if MJ died in a fire those firefighters wouldn't lose their job.
Great project dude, you could do those firefighters dancing as MJ too Hahahahaha.

~KidXister Jan 22, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Somehow I doubt it, the government didn't help out those 911 volunteer fire fighters when they got sick.

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