Tiny Scales

This is a project in protest art for the USA. These tiny scales of (in)justice (about two inches) are available free from suppliers on the East and West coasts of the USA. The website has the email address to write to, if you want to request some. (A donation would be welcome, I suppose, to cover postage and costs, though I was not asked for one.) The Tiny Scales are made on a 3D printer from PLA filament, an eco-friendly plant-based plastic. They have a QR code on the bottom that opens up on the website that offers options for action and engagement to resist fascism (my main photo includes an educational poster made by someone unrelated to me, unrelated to this project, who struggles with the spelling of the F word).

The organizers of this effort, called Mouths Wide Open, hope to send these Tiny Scales all over the country. People can leave them in public places and then photograph them in situ. Photos may be posted in a website gallery, and organizers are exploring other social media, such as Blue Sky. People who find them may keep them or move them to a new location.

Organizers explain, “We’re an ad hoc group of theatre artists, musicians, writers, visual artists, and singers….creating materials that spread the message of engaged activism….” Their motto comes from Gunter Grass: "The job of a citizen is to keep your mouth open.” Their idea is Don’t Remain Silent. Don’t let the fascists get away with this. Don’t be complicit in genocide. Do something.

You can guess how I’m connected with that ad hoc group. I’m all for it, as photography is key to the mission. It gives people one more option for action, and it suits those who are shy, introverted, disabled, or otherwise unable to participate in large, loud civic actions. We need all the tactics we can get.

In the evening I went to a large, loud civic action. See extras. I won't leave them here for long.