To MAMA

N. York, MAMA (for Bloody Hands), 2010

Mikey, the first man with Bloody Hands

Cowboy as open container @ Tompkins open air show

H.J. Mess, mama, 2010 (for "Wall for peace", Istanbul Art Fair 2010) www.messart.de

G. Naschberger and N.York, Mary with monkey, 2005

N.York, Daily news (Mother Mary like some people more), 1991

I can excitedly report, that I saw the first man wearing "Bloody Hands". It was Mikey, the guy I got to know on the 2nd launch Sunday of "Bloody Hands".

He didn't intentionally color his hands red, which makes it a bit of a cheat, but when I said "Hey, you have bloody hands." He immediately joined in and said: "Oh yeah, that's right, that's your art. Oh well, before I came to see the show, I was performing surgery on babies for a couple of hours. That's why the blood is also green."

People sometimes talk strange, but I have to say, I very much like it. He might have said something about aliens as well, but I forgot.
I asked him, if I could take pictures. I also took pictures of Cowboy, who he had spray painted together with. Another man with bloody hands. Cool.

On a side note: I really liked Cowboys and Mikeys expressive performance project. Cowboy was dancing around at Tompkins Square Park - it was a great open air punk rock concert - costumed as an "open container". It was a fun protest against that law.

For all Non-Americans, the open container law means, that you can't carry around an open bottle of alcohol with you, because that would indicate that you are drinking in public - even if you don't. And drinking in public is not allowed in the U.S., very strictly enforced. That's the law.

It's a bit annoying, that one isn't allowed to have a beer during an open air show, but the law doesn't have that much effect really. People drink beer out of coffee cups and vodka out of Sprite bottles - criminally united. The police is patrolling around and they also send in undercover cops, but the information about who is an undercover, spreads faster than the cop can walk.

I believe the police knows, they aren't stupid, but as long as nothing is happening it's all good and there is no stress. They would only check your cup or bottle, if they don't like you or if they want to catch you for some other thing - it's kind of smart in a very American way. A two sided sword.

I love Americans so much for their "don't ask, don't tell" policies. I wish more nations would understand it instead of calling it bigot. It provides a lot, lot of freedom for those who are different.

I'm at the same time in contact with an artist friend from Cologne, Heinz-Joseph Mess, whose recent work I believe to be really good.  He is currently working on an invitation to an exhibition he has coming up titled "mama".  Looking at the photo of Mikey, it was striking that he has the word "MAMA" tattooed on his hand, so I sent Hajo the pic. He decided, that it was perfect for the invite. Nice!

If you happen to be in Leipzig, check it out!

It started me thinking about the archetype of mother, my personal mothers, my blood mother, my mother city New York, I love them all.

This is to you, MAMA! And though I don't have real children, I'm a mother too :).