If They Come For You In The Morning

September 5th, 2006

On July 27th and 28th, the art gallery “ABC no Rio” in New York City (www.abcnorio.org)hosted and Art auction to raise funds for the Daniel McGowan cause (www.supportdaniel.org). Called “If They Come For You In The Morning”, the show featured art works from artists like Swoon, MoMo, The Barnstormers, Elbow Toe, Judith Supine, David Ellis, Brandon Bauer, Kelly Burns, Sunny Chapman alias Flower Face Killah… … that donated their works for the cause. Some of the pieces had a set price, varying from 10US$ to 100US$ and 150US$. Artworks from better known artists as Judith Supine, MOMO or Swoon were sold at silent auction.

Daniel McGowan is an environmental and social justice activist, part of the Military Counter-Recruitment project incidentally, who was arrested in 2005 and now faces a minimum of life in prison if convicted. He was charged in federal court on numerous counts of property destruction and conspiracy. McGowan plead not guilty to all charges.

His detention was coordinated by the federal government in the Northwest US, in the state of Oregon, a part of a multi-state sweep of numerous activists who were charged with practically every earth and animal liberation case left unsolved in the area. Many of the charges, including Daniel’s, are for cases that were to due to expire. The legality of this detentions is unlikely and for this reason many have protested the charges, specially McGowan’s.

The show coincided with the summer’s biggest heat wave, temperatures reaching 100º F (38º C) and 102ºF (39ºC). The space only had a small fan to refresh but nevertheless the show was crowded and many pieces sold for more than 300US$.

Patricia Yague

Entry Filed under: Miscellaneous