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
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