Messages in the Sky: Artistic Interventions Take Flight

Essay published in Herizons, Fall 2024 (Fight or Flight).

Read online here.

  • The public art series Eyes on Iran advocated for Iran’s removal from the UN Commission on the Status of Women. (Photo: Mahvash Mostala, “Woman Life Freedom, Flying Eyes,” 2022. Photo: Austin Paz, courtesy of Woman, Life, Freedom)
  • Mahvash Mostala, “Woman Life Freedom, Flying Eyes,” 2022. Photo: Austin Paz, courtesy of Woman, Life, Freedom
  • The discovery of unmarked graves at former residential schools across Canada prompted nationwide Cancel Canada Day protests under the slogan, Every Child Matters. (Photo: Aaron Hemens/Capital News, courtesy of Black Press Media)
  • 80 artists contributed messages that were sky-typed over sites of significance for the public art project, XMAP: In Plain Sight. Black Lives Matter co-founder, Patrisse Cullors, chose to project “Care not Cages” over LA County Jail. (Photo: Chris Mastro via Cassils/Instagram)
  • Artist Kosisochukwu Nnebe created What is a Flag on Stolen Land for STAGES, a biennial offsite public exhibition series by Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art. The work was installed outside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to challenge colonial logic. (Photo: Karen Asher)
  • During an All Out for Palestine protest in Austin, a plane circled above the Texas State Capitol with the message “Save Palestine Cease Fire Now.” (Photo: Nadia Noor/X)