Signs of Hope

Focus on what we want. ~ Jessica Craven


I had a dream the night after the election of thousands of giant eyes marching down the street to elevate the humanity of "We the People".  I have made eyes for marches before and they are very effective as a fun, poignant and striking visual. The first time I made them was for The Women’s March in DC, 2017.


When I heard there was a People's March planned for two days before inauguration 2025 I was extremely ambivalent, I wasn't interested in attending or seeing another protest after the election. I had been overwhelmed, scared and immobilized into avoidance. My internal compass has reflexively pointed me towards community and unity as a counter to all of the division in the country. I want to do things differently— I want to come together with people of all kinds and I don't want the narrative to be that the "sour grapes left" can't accept defeat. 

But, it's not about an inability to accept defeat, it's about: Freedom of Expression, Freedom to Worship in our own way, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear.  The billionaires who pull the strings are threatening these American values that were first articulated by FDR, and we need a bold statement to assert that we the people demand freedom and justice for ALL.  And we are not interested in re-living Mccarthyism, oligarchic rule or fascism.

As a result of my ambivalence and paralysis, I didn't mobilize an eye making art building movement as quickly as I would have liked. But, I did it one day before the march and I’m so glad I did.

The People's March was already planned with marches happening all over the country. Having art there made it better and more worth it for everyone — and for our democracy.

Hopefully you like the idea of a critical mass of giant eyes and will join me and share with your networks.  I teamed up with Indivisible Brooklyn (INBK), Brooklyn Resisters, friends and neighbors. It was a great way to feel part of a community, create together and empower each other.

There will be more marches. We will need to be paying closer attention than ever before. We will need to witness and focus. I hope you will see how powerful this visual is and make your own eyes. I have a bold vision of seeing these eyes everywhere with word balloons and text that we all create to lift voices and make them visible when it feels like we are invisible.

It's a simple idea - make giant eyes.   

The "eye-dea"  can be interpreted however anyone likes, the main guideline is that the eyes are big - about 16" x 20" at least.

I made them out of cardboard and paint, but they can be made out of many other materials (cut paper, markers, fabric, etc... but I ask that you think about the environmental impact of the materials you use.)

I am interested in inclusive messaging, to all Americans, that goes with the title : The People's March. These are the words I'm thinking about. I’d love to know what words you think about that can mobilize people and widen our tent in this moment.

  • Visualize a true democracy

  • We can do hard things

  • We want Liberty and Justice for ALL

  • We the People demand: Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship in our own way, Freedom from Want, Freedom from Fear

  • E Pluribus Unum

  • We are all ONE

  • Americans Unite!

  • Love thy Neighbor

  • We believe in the Constitution

I have made art for marches and actions for many years, the feeling of community while creating the art and marching is a wonderful thing. I hope you'll join me and share this with others. If not, I hope you'll find another way to not be paralyzed and checked out.

Sign up with Indivisible or Move On

Action is the Antidote to Anxiety.

Warmly,

Julie