6    “Violation”               2001          
Poster pieces on canvas          110 x 84”          

This was the second piece I thought of.   It was not too long after the attacks that I started feeling as if I were being held captive.   Held captive by fear, held captive by CNN, held captive by terrorists.   This ransom note itself was written and rewritten to get it just right.   The repetitive use of “give us” was meant to be a simple demand.   It wasn’t until after I had finished the piece that my friend Josh pointed out the similarities to Emma Lazarus’ famous inscription at the base of the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor....   I feel the note's main point is in the logical paradox at its conclusion: “Give it to us now or you’ll never see it again.”   Trust and optimism and security are ours and the power rests solely with us to hold onto them.   Without our acquiescence, terrorists are powerless to effect change.