The International Free Expression Project began when Greg Victor, an editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, was walking through the newspaper’s old pressroom along lines of massive presses, which soon were to be scrapped as part of the property’s redevelopment. These were among the oldest metropolitan newspaper presses in the world. He saw them as stunningly beautiful manifestations of 20th-century industrial art, with thousands of shining silver rollers, star-shaped knobs, gleaming gears and other compelling objects.
The initial idea was to save as many presses as possible for reconstruction and to distribute parts to artists for reimagining. Given the increasingly dire threats to free expression accumulating around the world at the time -- from extremists, governments and populist movements -- the next idea was to build the world’s first iconic work of public art dedicated to a free press and free expression. It would incorporate parts of these historic presses, whose ancestors were among the original newspaper publishers of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The project and the Pittsburgh community would sponsor an international competition to design this powerful symbol so as to draw worldwide attention to the importance of free expression. It would rise on a world-class site at Pittsburgh's front door where two major rivers meet to form a third.
The director of the Pittsburgh Office of Public Art, curators of the Andy Warhol Museum, the mayor of Pittsburgh and many other local leaders came on board. Over the past two years, individuals and institutions from the local, national and international level have gotten involved -- not least Sara Longo of the Carnegie Mellon University CREATE Lab, who now is IFEP co-organizer.
From these beginnings, IFEP has progressed rapidly. It has been under the nonprofit fiscal agency of New Sun Rising for two years and incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization Jan. 10, 2019. With the generous support of organizers, funders, advocates and advisers, it has evolved into the four-part project it is today, aiming to create: 1) A signature work of public art; 2) An artsy, bustling gathering place called the Marketplace of Ideas; 3) A International Center for Free Expression that commissions newly invented educational and advocacy tools; and 4) Sponsorships for artworks and other creative endeavors.
The International Free Expression Project is dedicated to building mass public support to protect your right to be who you are and say what you want in the manner you choose. Please lend a hand. Please click the 'Get Involved' button below. Thank you.
The initial idea was to save as many presses as possible for reconstruction and to distribute parts to artists for reimagining. Given the increasingly dire threats to free expression accumulating around the world at the time -- from extremists, governments and populist movements -- the next idea was to build the world’s first iconic work of public art dedicated to a free press and free expression. It would incorporate parts of these historic presses, whose ancestors were among the original newspaper publishers of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The project and the Pittsburgh community would sponsor an international competition to design this powerful symbol so as to draw worldwide attention to the importance of free expression. It would rise on a world-class site at Pittsburgh's front door where two major rivers meet to form a third.
The director of the Pittsburgh Office of Public Art, curators of the Andy Warhol Museum, the mayor of Pittsburgh and many other local leaders came on board. Over the past two years, individuals and institutions from the local, national and international level have gotten involved -- not least Sara Longo of the Carnegie Mellon University CREATE Lab, who now is IFEP co-organizer.
From these beginnings, IFEP has progressed rapidly. It has been under the nonprofit fiscal agency of New Sun Rising for two years and incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization Jan. 10, 2019. With the generous support of organizers, funders, advocates and advisers, it has evolved into the four-part project it is today, aiming to create: 1) A signature work of public art; 2) An artsy, bustling gathering place called the Marketplace of Ideas; 3) A International Center for Free Expression that commissions newly invented educational and advocacy tools; and 4) Sponsorships for artworks and other creative endeavors.
The International Free Expression Project is dedicated to building mass public support to protect your right to be who you are and say what you want in the manner you choose. Please lend a hand. Please click the 'Get Involved' button below. Thank you.
