Papier-Mâché
by Natalie in Austin, Texas
“I have so much anguish from everything that’s been going on in the Trump administration, so I channeled that energy to create this piece. It was a labor of horror and grief. I definitely experienced a catharsis while creating. I knew that sharing a laugh with my fellow neighbors would be a healing experience. The message of my creation is simple: we cannot allow the Trump administration to disregard the Constitution and break the law. Refuse Tyranny! Power to the People!
A little bit about my process. I used some balloons and papier-mâché for the body. Some air dry clay for the features. A little faux fur for the hair! I worked over the course of two months, little bits here and there after work, allowing everything to dry fully. I’d like to think I’ve been an artist my whole life. I love using my hands and enjoy creating pretty much anything. I love having an idea that I can bring to life. I’ve tried my hand at illustration, paintings, sculpture, fashion design. In my career, I am a hair colorist and get to be creative in that way every day.”
– Natalie in Austin, Texas
Signs of the Time is an all-volunteer collective that cares deeply about this fraught moment in time. We celebrate the creative ways people are demonstrating at rallies around the country by taking photos of protest signs and uncovering the stories behind them.
By posting protest signs/stories to our media channels, we hope to:
amplify the originality and ferocity of purpose of each sign’s message;
honor the personal stories that inspired the making of the signs;
elevate each sign-makers’ passion as an urgent call to action; and
create an archive of citizens’ resistance against the current administration.
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To submit your own sign and story, please go to Signs-of-the-Time.com.
Photos of signs and interview comments have been used with permission of the sign creators, photographers and citizen journalists.