Although technology induced artist James Powderly didn’t get a chance to shine the words “Free Tibet” on a building in Beijing, the mission was still a success. After being accosted out of bed by secret police, interrogated, and then hauled to a detention facility, word got out and the story received a lot of press. Plus a movement began, a t-shirt was designed, everyone (of the American activists) got home safe, and for the first time Twitter became relevant thanks to Earth Mouse. And it’s not like he didn’t get a chance to have some fun with his high tech tool, lighting up this message that’s slightly less important than freeing Tibet:
Late last night, ANIMAL reached newly freed activist Jeffrey Goldin by phone, one of the ten Americans released by Chinese authorities for pro-Tibetan activities during the Olympics—he was detained on August 19th along with James Powderly, Brian Conley, Jeffrey Rae, Michael Liss, and Tom Grant. Goldin described how he was jolted out of his hotel bed at around 2AM by eight secret police and later taken to a scary prison and interrogated about “Earth Mouse,” but more details on that later, first some set up.
With the 2008 Olympic games officially coming to end, brave US officials decided to finally step up diplomatic pressure on Beijing for the release of James Powderly and seven other Americans detained for their association with activist groups like a Students for A Free Tibet. It apparently worked and all eight were promptly deported to Los Angeles International airport yesterday, five days ahead of their ten day sentence. A lot more details will be forthcoming about the ordeal, but we did learn from co-conspirator and G.R.L. member Evan Roth that cops busted in Powderly’s hotel room ‘V for Vendetta style’ while he was sleeping and carted him away to the “Chong Wen Detention House”—more on that from them later.
Charged with “upsetting public order,” six activists were punished by Beijing police with “10-day detention terms,” according to a statement released by the monk-killing authorities. Students for A Free Tibet believe the six are Powderly and the other five Americans arrested for displaying pro-Tibetan sentiments, although the skull-cracking coppers refused to confirm details. In China, the police can detain “without having to go through the courts.” So the bad news is it looks like Powderly will have to spend another week in jail, the good news is you now have plenty of time to join the movement and submit some freedom promoting imagery or just buy the t-shirt. UPDATE: Powderly freed! |AFP|
Now that the movement has begun, here’s the official POWderly-Tee designed by fellow conspirator and G.R.L. co-founder Evan Roth—he was on vacation in Costa Rica at the time. The trouble began on Wednesday, when James Powderly was taken into custody by Beijing security officials for plotting to debut his harmless “Free Tibet” L.A.S.E.R. stencil on a major building near Tiananmen Square. Roth notes that there’s still no word on Powderly’s whereabouts, so go ahead and buy a shirt. The money is earmarked for a good cause: “All proceeds will go towards getting James hella drunk when he gets back.”
It’s been 48 hours and counting since the soulless Chinese detained artist-engineer James Powderly for planning to shine the words “Free Tibet” on a prominent building in Beijing with his custom L.A.S.E.R. stencil. And now with the detainment (starting to love this word) of five more Americactivists, the story is quickly spreading in major newspapers and on blogs, motivating fellow freedom fighters to spring into action. Photographer, human rights acitvist, and Gothamist publisher Jake Dobkin desecrated the Tibetan flag with this parody, featuring the artist’s face and the words “Free Powderly,” effectively making the G.R.L. co-founder on par with the Dalai Lama. The movement is now afoot. Any other ideas for cool and effective freedom images? Send ‘em in. But the clock is ticking, the Students for A Free Tibet claim that 72 hours is the norm for holding activists. UPDATE: James Powderly freed!
Image: Jake Dobkin
Despite the detainment of G.R.L.’s intrepid activist James Powderly, the group’s technology continues to cause problems for Chinese authorities. Five Americans were taken into custody yesterday for unfurling a “Free Tibet” banner in Beijing’s Olympic Park that was made out of “LED throwies,” small illuminating devices that were designed by Powderly and fellow G.R.L. founder Evan Roth. According to Free Tibet, the American activists “were detained by security personnel after displaying the banner for about 20 seconds at 11:48 pm August 19th. Their whereabouts are unknown.” Still no word from Powderly either, who’s now been held for about 48 hours. Here’s a photo gallery of the unveiling and a bonus video of the short-lived, but impactful display below.
Finally, some real Olympic drama. Hacktivist James Powderly, co-founder of the Graffiti Research Lab (G.R.L.), was detained by Beijing authorities while readying a specially planned Tibetan protest project using the infamous L.A.S.E.R. stencil. After being disinvited to Beijing’s National Media Art Museum, the engineer-artist decided to go China anyway and promote a free Tibet. He was reportedly picked up around 3AM this morning our time and according to FreeTibet, “his current whereabouts remain unknown.” |FreeTibet|
This laser graffiti image above is from Hong Kong. Photo: F.A.T
Sharing Time’s top stories along with the fate of the polygamist kids, the Dems’ balancing of the Pope’s visit, the increased call to violence from Al-Sadr, and the political problems of Kenya, is a feature story on James Powderly and tag analyzer Evan Roth of the Graffiti Research Lab. They discuss their newly emerging art form among other things, like the impetus for building high tech laser guided writing tools in the first place, “The basic idea for laser tag was to create free-speech machines — to find ways of helping people say things at a scale and in a place where you normally have people controlling speech.” The piece is filled with all sorts of other choice quotes, like this one detailing why they invited over 100 known vandals to the MoMA as part of one of their recent exhibits, “When graffiti writers are arrested, it’s at the judge’s discretion what they are charged with, depending on whether they were acting as vandals or misguided artists. And by inviting all these people to MoMA, now if they ever get arrested, they can point to this video and say that of course they’re artists, they’ve been featured by one of the country’s most prominent institutions.” Read the whole thing here, and check the video too. |Time|
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