Earlier this summer, I participated in the Digital Billboard Art Project, a project where artists can submit images to be displayed on a public digital billboard. I had 45 images in the show that were shown on a billboard near a highway in the Detroit Metro area (Macomb County), MI. The images were of food – in both abstract and recognizable views, combined with words and slogans often used by advertisers to promote packaged food. A tomato with the word “SAME GREAT TASTE,” a papaya with the words “50% LESS FAT*” and images of rice, soybeans, a peach, and cheese were in the series.
Each of the foods in the series has a unique story related to genetic engineering or modern farming practices. I was interested to be part of this show since it was in Detroit, a city which is facing challenges of food access and food equity.
The images from the show are now up on flickr, and there is a new video of the billboard, which shows the images in a slideshow timed video. It is interesting to see how the images appear in the context of being in public on the street.
The Billboard Art Project is a project that acquires digital billboards normally used for advertising and repurposes them as roadside galleries – showing images from artists. Types of work that may be displayed include images created specifically for the billboard as well as images of previously made art adapted to the format. No two Billboard Art Project shows are alike; each city features new work.
This year upcoming shows included other locations such as Richmond, VA; Salem, OR; Albany, NY, and Atlanta, GA. The Detroit show was unique in that the images were up for a month.
Links:
http://billboardartproject.org/cities/detroit.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIGuNzOjNbE&list=UUmVsJp7-w-n6vj3QALtdqcg&index=1&feature=plcp