"See Something Say Something" by Bobby Collins

Yesterday, I sent an e-mail, that contained the images of a shoot I did for the East Village Boys to the EVB's... I'd like to say that I'm happy about that and grateful for the opportunity!.. I'm happy about it because what I chose to photograph was a subject(s) based on issue(s) that have been bothering me for so long.. Arabs and Homos. Not Arabs and homos in general, but the American propaganda and campaign to zero in on the fear we should have for anything foreign, particularity, the understanding of Arabic peoples and of course, Gays. The mix of the two is volatile (in some regions).


One of my closest friends (Arab), someone who I've been through a lot with and for, has finally come to the USA . We used to talk about hanging in NYC together many times, having fun like all of the stories I used to go on about (but what's amusingly sad, is that I would run into old friends at a few of the 'old fun' places and we would have to explain the 'fun' that once existed, rather than 'Be A Part Of IT'). Fortunately (as unwitting casualties of the same campaign that leads people to believe that foreigners, especially Arabic guests, are more scrutinized at the embassy and at customs), last month's process, was a cake walk..(for him anyway.. ?!LUCKY!?.. who knows, but try doing that in Israel, lol ). I mean, why not.. is xenophobia and homophobia really so rampant in the USA, as it is in.. hmm, let's just say 'other places'? While going around NYC, usually by subway, there were a few moments that I almost felt embarrassed sitting with him in front of a huge sign like...(actually many of the subway cars have these signs in practically every advertising slot)...



My 'see something say something' shoot shall soon be on the EVB's site within June/July. Coinciding is an exhibition in Berlin that my friend Mody was asked to be a part of. The exhibition titled, THRILLER is an extension to the exhibition '1 69 A2' that was shown in the fall of 2009 during the Fiac in Paris. He's going to also use parts from the 'see something say something' propaganda (basically use elements of fear) that's in place in NYC, and an image from my 'see smthng say smthng' I shot with him.

OPENING SATURDAY, JUNE 12TH 2010
From 6pm to 11pm
&
SUNDAY, JUNE 13TH 2010
From 6pm to 11pm


Rigaerstr. 69, 10247 Berlin U5 : Samariterstr.

AFTER SHOW PARTY
On Saturday, June 12th, from 11pm
at The Mirror Bar
Stralunderstr. 29A 13355 Berlin U8 : Bernauerstr.



Poem by bobby collins


My inspiration stems from
The gloom and from the glum…
Propagated and stated
By those who have made it
A collective lump sum
To feel incessantly unabated
Toward lessening what’s left of our curtailed way of fun.

Who fears the sight of this ‘thing’?
Focus toward the right wing,
Since its mere residence will foster
An unwarranted angst that does offer
A Suspicion toward someone or something.
that could modify our lauder
And his freedom for being most promising.

To them, they’re uncertain
That it, unlike this person,
This sight for sore eyes
For whom they chastise
Could make it all worsen
If they presume to legalize,
What is now behind a closed curtain.

And it doesn’t stop there,
As many people from everywhere
Would like to enjoy their vacation
In our ornery creation of a nation
Where you can’t even fucking swear
Unless it’s your right hand on a black book like that at an ordination
And who does care?
See something say something is in the air….




Music is by 'Badfinger'- Tuesday Morning (a song from 1971-72)
I was looking for a song that related to a more (relatively) peace seeking time and/or pre-9/11 experience..
something that would also refer to my friend as being my friend (as well as all of my friends, foreign and domestic LOL but i guess that depends on where iam). I chose Badfinger's 'Tuesday Morning', because the lyrics reflect the day of Tuesday, September 11th 2001, as we (Mody and I) were in Europe, and our 'morning' had already passed.. and a new mourning started in the afternoon... to speak for myself, it was a beautiful morning as Tuesdays tended to be my Sundays for a while. It was an easy-going period, until our afternoon, that changed a lot about our lives.