Like art and democracy? Buy up some stamps at your local post office and head over to Hayes Valley where you can paste them to a new mural in support of every American's right to vote.
Dreamed up by San Francisco's John McNeil Studio, the interactive installation "Stamp Out 2020" is a one-two punch, aimed at both supporting the United States Postal Service—which has been defunded and slowed down in an effort to prevent mail-in voting for this pandemic-era election—and encouraging people to take a collective stand against political corruption.
"Stamp Out 2020" takes aim at stamping out corruption and inequalities.(Courtesy of John McNeil Studio)
"Voting is a fundamental right and the responsibility of every American. It is the bedrock of our democracy," says the creative studio's CEO/founder John McNeil. "Unfortunately, at a time when an unprecedented number of Americans will be relying on the U.S. mail to vote, the USPS is being undermined and politicized by the current administration."
You can't miss the mural at Octavia Street's community flex space Proxy: Emblazoned with the words "Stamp Out Corruption," it is designed to be interactive—all are invited to BYO stamps and paste them on. On the flip side of the art wall, smaller posters sound the call to stamp out racism, fascism, greed, and nepotism. The installation borrows from historical and current graphical elements of USPS identity.
McNeil says that Proxy, as the venue for the large-scale interactive mural, made "perfect sense." Surrounded by beloved local retail and dining spots including Smitten Ice Cream, Ritual Coffee Roasters, and Aether, Proxy has hosted innovative community-centric events and art installations for nearly 10 years—and its spacious outdoor setting is also perfect for socially distanced stamping.
After you stick on your stamps, be sure to snap a pic for Instagram and tag it #StampOut2020. The installation will be up at Proxy through the November election.You can also download one of six postersto display on your home or business. // stampout2020.com
Six different poster designs are available for free download at stampout2020.com(Courtesy of John McNeil Studio)
