[-empyre-] Secretary to deliver "Speech for the End of the World"

[US Department of Art & Technology <press@usdat.us>]

US Department of Art & Technology
For Immediate Release: October 19, 2004

SECRETARY PACKER TO DELIVER
"SPEECH FOR THE END OF THE WORLD"

ANNOUNCING ARTISTIC EFFORTS TO
LIFT SHROUD OF DARKNESS OVER NATION

WASHINGTON, DC - On Thursday, October 21, at 7:30 PM EST, Secretary 
Randall M. Packer will give the "Speech for the End of the World" for 
the opening of "Democracy is Fun" at the White Box gallery in the 
Chelsea district of New York City.

Curated by Michele Thursz and Defne Ayas, the exhibition has as its 
key objective "the social mechanism of art advocating intervention 
during times of political and cultural urgency."

In response, the Secretary will announce efforts to lift the shroud 
of darkness hanging over America and the world by introducing new 
artistic initiatives intended to combat the wrath of the right-wing, 
Christian fundamentalists claiming dominion over all the Earth.

According to Secretary Packer, "with the White House proclaiming its 
'theology of war,' we believe that the most solemn duty of the artist 
is to protect the American people in these post-apocalyptic times of 
extraordinary crisis. If the artist shows uncertainty or weakness in 
the final days before the election, our nation may drift toward 
tragedy and ruin."

"Democracy is Fun," with political interventions by over 15 artists, 
opens Thursday, October 21, 6 - 8 PM, and continues through November 
6. White Box is located at 525 West 26th Street, NYC.

For more information: 
<http://www.whiteboxny.org/democracyisfun>www.whiteboxny.org/democracyisfun

******

The US Department of Art & Technology
http://www.usdat.us

The US Department of Art and Technology is the United States 
principal conduit for facilitating the artist's need to extend 
aesthetic inquiry into the broader culture where ideas become real 
action. It also serves the psychological and spiritual well-being of 
all Americans by supporting cultural efforts that provide immunity 
from the extension of new media technologies into the social sphere.

*****

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