Interview by JASMINE MAHMOUD & DANIELLE KLINE
Published online: August 7, 2009

The artist signing her sonnet, LetterToObama.

Here’s part 2 of 2 of our conversation with M. Liz Andrews, creator of the artistic citizenship website LetterToObama. Andrews answers more of our questions about President Obama’s influence on her work, interpretations of the word activism, advice for political artists, and upcoming projects. Read Part 1 of 2, and more about Andrews, here.

Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

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JASMINE: I saw on your website a post called ‘For the 44th on the 4th,” about something you have planned on August 4th. Can you give us any hints about this project?

The August 4th, 2009 edition of “For the 44th on the 4th” will be the first of a monthly publication of Letters submitted to the website and, coincidentally, falls on the 48th birthday of the President. This month will feature the work of three artists working in the mediums of painting/collage, poetry and video. Excited about it!

JASMINE: You’ve read both of President Obama’s books, which you said underscored a “profound passion for justice.” How did his work, and that passion, influence this project?

When I read Obama’s books, especially “Dreams From My Father,” I saw myself and the people I surround myself in him: young, deeply concerned with the injustices of this nation and planet and, excited about making a difference in the world. People often speak about the ways that people change as they grow older – or how the world changes them. Many people become complacent or jaded. In some ways, I feel a responsibility to deliver messages to the President from people to remind him of why he is doing his job.

JASMINE: Did you consider this work, in part, an ode to President Obama? If so, how did you negotiate admiration for the President with room for political criticism?

My piece is nothing more and nothing less than my artistic observation of reality. I thought about the ways I could have addressed specific issues I had with Barack Obama in the piece, however, that was not the spirit of the moment I chose to capture. This is the first time many people have been able to vote for something rather than merely against something worse. I thought it was important to speak generally, honestly and from a place of love since my piece and statement set the tone. This work is the first time I have ever felt my citizenship as something other than outrage at the leadership of this nation.

JASMINE: Have you received any response from the White House or from other politicians?

Not yet.

DANIELLE: Ideally, how would you like the Obama administration to respond to LetterToObama?

I hesitate to define the proper response because sometimes the world has bigger plans for you than you can ever imagine for yourself or your work.

DANIELLE:  Tell me about your thinking behind choosing to use the word “activist” on your website.  As you are aware, activists are typically seen as government dissenters, individuals with whom government officials typically want to steer clear of constructive association or correspondence. If the corresponsence staffers at the White House—many of whom are often college interns—open your LetterToObama and have little understanding of the word “activist”, do you think that you are likely to receive a thoughtful response?

As I stated in earlier responses, I have sought to be honest with this work. This work is my activism and I am fearless about claiming what I am doing. The fact that some people are turned off by the word is unfortunate but not insurmountable. Despite the political content of the work, there are some political games I am unwilling to play if it compromises the integrity of the project.

JASMINE: You end your artistic statement with “This project is, among many things, an effort to illuminate the real potential between ART AND POLITICS.” How do you see that potential?

As endless. This project and the Arts Politics program in general really inspired me to explode all categories, obstacles and fears and come to a place where ideas have no boundaries, only questions. I have never designed a website in my life and now I am doing this. I had never worked in film before and made a music video for one of my classes this spring. People always ask me what you do with this degree and I have just come to realize that you do YOUR WORK with it. Whatever that may mean.

JASMINE: What are your upcoming projects? How has LetterToObama influenced your future work?

I am dedicated to seeing this project through for the four years of this term. In that way, and I had not thought about this before, it is the only thing I know for sure about my work in the next four years which gives me a lot of joy and inspiration. The next thing I am working on in the short term is a blog/short film called “The Real Colored Vagina World, Season 1: Berlin.” Long story short, myself and 6 other women of color who went to my college (Wesleyan University) all decided to visit our friend who is in a dance company (and a gay black man) in Berlin at the same time. Since it is 20 years since the fall of the Berlin wall, we thought it was a great opportunity to have some reflection about the place and our interactions there as outsiders on many levels. I am always working on music and will let you know when I have shows coming up which will be in the spring.

JASMINE: What advice would you give to artists seeking to make political change?

Question everything. Be kind to yourself and to the people you support as well as those you oppose. Reflect on Toni Cade Bambara’s quote, “revolution begins in the self and with the self,” and see where that takes you.

Check out Andrews’s project, LetterToObama, at lettertoobama.com.