Grant Kester

The reading this week articulated many questions and concerns I am having over a project I am looking to produce this summer. Due to the weight of the topic I worry about the project's implications toward a community and myself. In this particular case, I want to be the artist who brings awareness and sparks conversation on the issues of the illegal immigrant between that very community and those outside of it. I fear someone will spin it as my way of using the issue to gain publicity and recognition. Thus ruining any focus on the social issue being posed.

I do not want to be the spokes person on the issues of immigration. Although I try very hard to educate myself on the topic, I am not an expert. The experts are the illegal immigrants. My intention is to provide a space for them to speak their mind rather than keep them as the "ones with no voice". My worry does extend to the fact this will become a highly political issue due to the fact it is an election year and each term immigration moves higher on the list of things to battle out between candidates. I want this to be about the people and connections, not politics. Their voices must ring out more than ever, taking precedent over statistics and opinion polls.

"The trouble with a lot of politically motivated art is a failure of nerve. Artists who produce work that they know is not favored by our establishment regime are not necessarily taking risks, since they can forecast the results. Truly taking a risk means not knowing what's going to happen in the end."

I have to stick my guns and ride it out. No matter what. Come hell or high water.