The BrushFire weblog has been a guide to activist arts and cultural happenings during the historic run-up to elections in November, 2008.  The editors wish to thank everyone who helped make the project a success.

Please refer to Provisions Library’s ongoing blog, SignalFire, for continued postings on the arts of social change.  We welcome your participation, so please contact us at: provisions.library@gmail.com.

To receive free periodic updates on Provisions’ activities, sign up here.
THANKS!

Fran Dresher, John Lewis, Paul Strauss, Lena Taylor, Jake Smollett, Sarah Ingersoll at the DNC
Photographer John Beebe set up his photo studio in the middle of last month’s Democratic National Convention and churned out a steady stream of large-scale portraits.  Over one hundred and thirty people from volunteers to delegates to senior party players to celebrities stepped out of the chaos, put down their Blackberries and cell phones and shared their stories.  Some of the names and faces will be recognized – Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, musician Moby, actors Hill Harper and Kerry Washington, labor leader Jimmy Hoffa, Jr.  Others faces will not be recognized but contain their own powerful story – teachers from Detroit, public defenders from West Virginia, hog farmers from Nebraska, retired veterans from Florida. Video footage was shot during the sessions and will be available soon.
See the results here.

The Museum of the Moving Image has an incredible online gallery of political campaign commercials called The Living Room Candidate.  It features more than 300 commercials, from every presidential election since 1952, when Madison Avenue advertising executive Rosser Reeves convinced Dwight Eisenhower that short ads played during such popular TV programs as I Love Lucy would reach more voters than any other form of advertising.

Don’t miss President Johnson’s infamous “Daisy Girl” ad, which ran only once during an NBC broadcast of Monday Night at the Movies on September 7, 1964.

The Curator’s Choice is a great place to start getting inspired to vote.  Slate magazine’s Chief Political Correspondent John Dickerson, also compiled a playlist here.  There’s a great lesson plan for teachers as well.