U.S.Social Forum 2010 -- Pull Up The People Project The U.S. Social Forum (USSF) [ http://www.ussf2010.org/ ] is set to take place June 22-26th, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The forum began in 2001 in Porto Alegre, Brazil playing an important role during the early stages of their democratic transformation. This forum offers an opportunity for peoples voices to be heard surrounding the issues of social injustice and to build on community efforts to create real change. As artists and activist we have an opportunity to participate in an expression of solidarity with the working people of the world on a scale unseen for many years. This is a call to artists participating in all mediums and disciplinary backgrounds to create a new kind of public propaganda. A propaganda which responds to the alienating issues presented by the people who are reluctant victims of an increasingly hostile economic environment. Artists with their fingers comparatively on the pulse of the people, have a unique ability to navigate beyond the bureaucratic avenues of social and political movements, and speak directly to the people. And like a flag, as long as their movement is still visibly active, there will always be hope. So our goal will be to encourage dialog and inspire action with various arrays of and approaches to propaganda. Our efforts will be displayed on the streets, walls, and dilapidated facades of Detroit for the weeks leading up to, during and potentially after the U.S. Social Forum. Our goal is to work closely with different groups and organizations to better understand what their mission is and find an artistic response for the world to digest. This doesn't mean we'll be creating a logo or identity for their movement, but rather we will be deconstructing the issues and creating something that could potentially transcend and unite each others individual causes under one single banner for freedom, justice and equality! This is not only a call for artists but a call for participants to step up and help us network with local artists of Detroit and activist preparing to organize either with the U.S. Social Forum or peripheral to it. We welcome all skills, whether they be artists, strategic, social, etc. Here are things we will need: -workspace -head quarters / meeting space -living quarters from May 22nd - June 30th If you feel you are able to help with this project, perhaps on a level we may have not considered, please contact: Kenneth Yates [ causticcastle[at]gmail.com ] In Solidarity, Yours Truly Kenneth Yates There Once Was A Rebellion [ http://thereoncewasarebellion.org/ ] HzCollective Experimental Collective [ http://hzcollective.blogspot.com ] Caustic Castle [ http://myspace.com/causticcastle ]