Whoohoo! We made our baseline goal. Thank you! Let's keep going, let's beat our goal. More $ means brighter projectors! Read more
Whoohoo! We made our baseline goal. Thank you! Let's keep going, let's beat our goal. More $ means brighter projectors!
About this project
The Illuminator, in case you haven't heard, is a tactical media machine (aka a van with a really powerful projector, sound system, and library) that has been roaming the streets of New York City and beyond, bringing the spirit and message of the movement of the 99% to street corners and public squares everywhere.
Unfortunately, our access to this van will end after September, so we need to purchase new equipment. We thought we'd try this Kickstarter thing, and we decided that while we were at it we should join forces with activists and artists in other cities doing similar work, to try and "raise a fleet." What you're backing here, when you give money to this campaign, is the collectives of artists, librarians, VJ's, and activists that have made these projects such a huge success. The Illuminator isn't a van, its us, its this amazing group of people, and our fellow luminous activists in Baltimore and San Francisco. Its all of us, using our smarts, gumption, creativity and DIY technical savvy to pull off inspiring and creative direct action for the 99%. We have the people, we need the gear.
We're setting a modest fundraising goal of $22,000, just to cover the basic gear needed for guerilla projection: Projectors ($5,000-$12,000 depending on how powerful they are), deep cell marine batteries ($600-$800), and electrical inverters ($200-$400). The ability to purchase more powerful projectors, and possibly retrofit vehicles exclusively for the use of guerilla projection will depend on how much additional money we can raise. In the meantime, we're dreaming up custom bike-powered projection units that will use HUMAN power instead of fossil fuel!
It
will be your passion and your commitment that makes this thing go. Our
dream is to help create a small fleet of Illuminators around the
country, bringing joyful, creative, inspiring actions to support and
further this global uprising for democracy, equality, and
sustainability. We are engaged in an all-out battle for the future of
humanity and the planet. The stakes are enormous. Mobile guerilla light
projection is but one tactic amongst many, but we think its pretty
effective, and beautiful. We'd like to see more of it, wouldn't you?
Watch our Occupy Anniversary Video Too!
Help us Illuminate the Nation. Keep The Illuminator Rolling....
This is an image of the original artwork by Swoon, available as a reward for generously backing this project. See backing options to the right
FAQ
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So, the answer to that is a little complicated, but we tried to answer it briefly in the statement that's up on our webstire, http://theilluminator.org. A more complete version of the story can be read in this article on the Waging Nonviolence blog
http://wagingnonviolence.org/2012/09/occupys-bat-signal-tries-to-keep-the-movement-in-spotlight/
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Well, that'll be a bit different for each collective that's a part of this. In NYC, for starters we want to get a projector of our own, and the additional gear needed to use it for guerilla projection. All that could run anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000 depending on the strength of the projector. Stronger = better. Currently we're thinking about putting that gear on a bike cart and going mobile that way rather than getting another fossil-fuel burner. The San Francisco crew is thinking along the same lines. Baltimore already has a projector, so their needs are different. More on that soon.
Rewards
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Pledge $10 or more
96 backers
Three 99% buttons and five 99% stickers to share with your friends (who, statistically, are probably also of the 99%)!
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $20 or more
67 backers
10 Buttons and 10 Stickers and a lot of gratitude from your Illuminator friends!
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $25 or more
10 backers All gone!
One pre-release DVD of Rumur films' latest documentary, Battle for Brooklyn. Not yet available in stores or on Netflix (but soon).
Battle for Brooklyn follows the story of reluctant activist Daniel Goldstein as he struggles to save his home and community from being demolished to make way for the densest real estate development in US history, the Atlantic Yards project of Brooklyn.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $30 or more
43 backers Limited (157 left of 200)
One "Outgrow the Status Quo" poster, from the Go Collective, a part of Occuprint collection. Beautiful full color, with "Strike Occupy" at the bottom. Look for photos in Update #7
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $35 or more
10 backers All gone!
One copy of the DVD Mic Check! Documentary Shorts from the Occupy Movement. The Media Education Foundation compiled and produced this historic and powerful collection of 19 short documentaries that tell the story of the uprising of 2011.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $40 or more
108 backers
Silkscreened Illuminator T-shirt (a "99% Bat Signal" over the NYC skyline). Plus a button and a sticker.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $65 or more
13 backers
Two T-shirts 5 stickers and 5 buttons from your Illuminator pals.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $99 or more
35 backers Limited (65 left of 100)
Custom and limited edition Illuminator "To Project & Serve" crew shirt. A hand silkscreened street tested button-down Dickies work shirt. Always in style, never under-dressed for action, let everyone know what you project, and who you serve. 99% solidarity! Plus 10 buttons & stickers.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $99 or more
5 backers All gone!
Signed Molly Crabapple Screenprint poster, plus 10 buttons and 10 Stickers.
A pro-union solidarity print with the words "We are all in this together." 13" x 19" on premium semi-gloss paper with archival inks. (Photos to come with first update)Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $149 or more
1 backer All gone!
Signed Molly Crabapple Screenprint Poster plus 10 buttons and 10 Stickers.
The famed "General Strike" poster by Molly, the last one that she has! 13" x 19" on premium semi-gloss paper. (Photos to come with first update)Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $199 or more
7 backers
A 11x17, glossy, framed image that commemorates the November 17th, 2011 OWS March, featuring the 99% Bat Signal illumination. Plus 10 buttons & stickers.
Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $399 or more
1 backer All gone!
Unique art print by famed street artist Swoon:
"Ashlee"
Screenprint on paper with collage.
15'' x 9''
(Gallery price $900. Photo to come with first update)Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $1,299 or more
0 backers Limited (1 left of 1)
Unique art print by Swoon:
"Hua Hua"
Screenprint on chip board with hand painting
8'' x 12''
Orange background with halo
(Gallery price $2,200. Photo to come with first update)Estimated delivery: -
Pledge $1,999 or more
0 backers Limited (3 left of 3)
Special projection for you or your favorite 99% friendly organization of choice, including consultation, logistics, scouting, and action support. Plus "To Project & Serve" crew shirt. (Note: projection event must be in the NYC metro area and before September 30th.)
Estimated delivery:
Featured
Funding period
- (32 days)
