News & Events
2022
I Wish to Say at the National Cathedral
Sunday, March 13, 2022 | 4:00pm
In 1920, the right to vote was expanded under the Nineteenth Amendment to include women. One hundred and two years later, we explore what it means to have your voice heard.
CCS has commissioned works from three of today’s leading women composers — Augusta Read Thomas, Lisa Bielawa, and Jessie Montgomery — that demonstrate the impact of speaking up and speaking out. As part of the day’s activities, you will also get to dictate a postcard to a real or imagined President as a part of Sheryl Oring’s participatory art project I Wish to Say.
2020
I Wish to Say at the Brooklyn Public Library
Join Sheryl Oring and her pool of typists for a series of live and virtual performances of “I Wish to Say” at the Brooklyn Public Library. The outdoor, socially-distanced live performance will take place from 1-3 pm and 4-6 pm on the plaza of the main library on Saturday, Oct. 17. Rain date, Oct. 18. Additionally, virtual performances will take place over zoom on the evenings of Oct. 18-21.
More info and sign-up is here.
“I Wish to Say” is an ongoing project by artist, journalist, and educator Sheryl Oring, staged by BPL Presents as part of the launch of the 28th Amendement project, with accompanying performance by composer Lisa Bielawa of “Voters' Broadcast”, a musical interpretation of past messages from “I Wish to Say”. “Voters' Broadcast” is held in partnership with the Kaufman Music Center.
I Wish to Say at Michigan Universities
Sheryl Oring returns to University of Michigan for a month-long performance of “I Wish to Say” from September 29 - November 1, 2020 as part of the university’s Democracy & Debate theme semester in collaboration with Stamps Gallery. In this project, Oring invites students from around the country to dictate a message to the next president, typing the notes on vintage typewriters. These interactions will be staged as virtual performances via Zoom every Tuesday from 4.30 pm-6.30 pm and Sunday from 1 pm-3 pm during the project’s run.
Additionally, selected messages will be set in Voters’ Broadcast, a new musical work conceived and composed by Lisa Bielawa, which will bring together choirs from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. The 15-minute musical work will be released in three parts over the course of the fall semester as part of the Democracy & Debate Theme Semester programming.
Students at both universities may sign up here to send a postcard to the next President!
2019
Mauer Broadcast with Lisa Bielawa
Artist Sheryl Oring and composer Lisa Bielawa have created Mauer Broadcast, a series of pop-up choral performances for the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, hosted by Kulturprojekte Berlin. The 16-minute musical piece for an unlimited number of voices will be performed four times during Berlin Festival Week between 4-10 November, in the open air at Brandenburg Gate (4 November, 14:30 and 5 November, 14:00), Alexanderplatz (10 November, 12:30), and Marx-Engels Forum (10 November, 14:00). The musical work will be created specifically for each of these official celebration sites, and listeners will be able to walk among the performers. Anyone may join the performances – the music is designed to be singable by the public, and involves many “call and response” sections. The texts for Mauer Broadcastare selected from Sheryl Oring’s Maueramtproject from autumn 2014, produced in conjunction with the 25th anniversary celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall. At this series of public performances, Oring set up typewriter locations along the former Wall and asked questions such as: “What do you think about when you think about the Berlin Wall,” or “What would you like the world to remember about the Berlin Wall?” Answers were typed on a manual typewriter onto small sheets of paper and collected for an exhibition at the Museum THE KENNEDYS in Berlin. More info on the festival is here.
“Freedom of the Presses: Artists’ Books in the Twenty-First Century”
Included in this new book edited by Marshall Weber and published by Booklyn. Freedom of the Presses is at once a textbook and a toolbox for using artists’ books and creative publications to further community engagement and social justice projects.
“I Wish to Say” at Dorothea Dix Park, June 1
Send a postcard to the President during a festival at the Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, NC. Stay tuned for details.
“I Wish to Say” at Greensboro Bound, May 16
Send a postcard to the President during the opening festivities for the Greensboro Bound book festival. Typing from 5:30-6:30 pm at the Weatherspoon Art Museum. Read more here.
“I Wish to Say,” Lebauer Park, Greensboro, April 13
Students from UNCG will perform from 2-4 (rain date, same time on April 14). Stop by to send a postcard to the President.
"I Wish to Say" at College Art Association, Feb. 13
Send a postcard to the President at CAA. Typing will take place from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday Feb. 13 at the NY Hilton Midtown, Second Floor Promenade.
“Writer’s Block” at Creative Pinellas: Feb. 7
On May 10, 1933, a Berlin public square known as Bebelplatz was the site of an infamous book burning that saw the destruction of approximately 20,000 books at the hands of Nazi officials and student groups.
Sheryl Oring premiered her sculptural installation Writer’s Block in the same square on the 66th anniversary of the book burning.Creative Pinellas now invites you to experience this powerful artistic statement on free expression and censorship.
The exhibition will open to a free reception and conversation with artist Sheryl Oring at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7 at the Gallery at Creative Pinellas.
2018
“Dear Mr. President,” the postcards began in 2004. Now the greetings are darker.
An artist shares what has changed in 15 years of typewritten letters from the public to Bush, Obama and Trump. Essay published in the Washington Post.
“I Wish to Say” video released
Video documents 2017 performance in Pittsburgh that was commissioned by The Office of Public Art and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership; video by Mark Knobil and Marc Rettig.
“Agitype: Changing the World One Letter at a Time” at Ringling College
Mid-career survery show at the Lois and David Stulberg Gallery at Ringling College in Sarasota, FL. Opens October 12, through December 8.
Agitype drawings
As part of the Ringling College show, the artist created a new series of drawings featuring quotes from the #MeToo movement. She plans to expand the series in the coming year.
“Writer’s Block” at Washington and Lee University
Solo show at the Staniar Gallery at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA, September 1-30. More info here.
“I Wish to Say” at Art Prize
Oring will be typing postcards to the president at the Western Michigan University gallery during Art Prize in Grand Rapids, MI. More info here.
"I Wish to Say" at College Art Association
Send a postcard to the President at CAA. Typing will take place from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday Feb. 22 at the LA Convention Center. More info here.
"Writer's Block" at Ruffin Gallery, University of Virginia
Solo show at the Ruffin Gallery at University of Virginia in Charlottesville will feature Oring's "Writer's Block" sculptures and a selection of works on paper. Opening is January 26 from 5-7 p.m.
2017
"I Wish to Say" at Market Square, Pittsburgh
Stop by Market Square and dictate a postcard to the President on the 99th and 100th days of his term. Brought to you by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and the Office of Public Art. Friday, April 28 from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday April 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"I Wish to Say" at the Torpedo Factory
Dictate a postcard to the President at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. Event from 6-9 p.m. on April 13.
"I Wish to Say" at the College Art Association (NY)
Dictate a postcard to the President at CAA! Thursday, Feb. 16, noon to 2:30 p.m. in the Second Floor Promenade of the New York Hilton. More info here.
"I Wish to Say" Archive Launched
The UNCG Library has launched a comprehensive digital archive of the "I Wish to Say" project documenting 3,289 messages to the President typed since 2004.
I Wish to Say @ Elsewhere (Greensboro, NC)
Every Saturday from 2-4 pm through the first 100 days of the new presidency there will be an "I Wish to Say" performance at Elsewhere, 606 South Elm St., Greensboro, NC. Stop by and dictate a postcard to the President.
2016
I Wish to Say @ Elsewhere
Typing starts at 8:30 p.m.
606 South Elm St., Greensboro, NC
Activating Democracy: The I Wish to Say Project
is just out from University of Chicago Press.
I Wish to Say @ CAM Raleigh
Nov. 4, 5-7 p.m.
Dispatches Exhibition at SECCA
Winston-Salem, NC
Opening: Nov. 1, 6-9 pm (typing from 7-8:30 pm)
Activating Democracy Book Launch
Oct. 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro, NC
I Wish to Say @ Creative Time Summit
Oct. 14 and 15, Washington, DC
Noon to 2 p.m., registration area
Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW
I Wish to Say @ Madison Square Park (NY)
Oct. 11, noon to 2 p.m.
Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street
The fountain at the southern end of park,
facing Shake Shack.
I Wish to Say @ Monmouth University (NJ)
Oct. 6
Performance: 11:30am-1:30pm
Rebecca Stafford Student Center
Artist’s Talk: 4:30pm, Club Dining Room
I Wish to Say @ Appalachian State University
Sept. 29
Performance: noon to 2 p.m.
I Wish to Say @ University of Colorado, Boulder
Oct. 23, noon to 2 p.m.
I Wish to Say @ Smack Mellon - June 17-July 31
Messages to the presidential candidates dictated during the an April 27 event at Bryant Park will be on display at Smack Mellon in Brooklyn as part of the "Of the people" exhibition. Opening reception: 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, June 18. Closing events: 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, July 31.
I Wish to Say @ Bryant Park
The show moves to Wednesday April 27! Come join us in Bryant Park to send a message to one of the presidential candidates, typed on a manual typewriter.
New Project at Tampa International Airport
Sheryl Oring was recently awarded a public art commission at the Tampa International Airport. She was one of 753 applicants for this award. Her project, "Greetings From Tampa" has proposed a sculpture with a performance-based, socially engaged component. Oring will invite Tampa residents to share stories and memories about their city The hand-typed stories and photos of Tampa will be printed on aluminum and form the material for the sculptures.
New T-shirts on Etsy
Check out the new "I Wish to Say" T-shirts, available on Etsy. Sales will help cover some of the costs associated with the 2016 shows. Thanks for your support!
"I Wish to Say" performance
April 26, 12:30-6:30 pm (rain date, April 27)
At the PEN World Voices Festival, New York
Stop by New York's Bryant Park, where artist Sheryl Oring and a team of PEN writers and UNCG students invite you to dictate postcards to the Presidential candidates. Your card will be typed on a manual typewriter, and Oring will mail it to the candidate.
Forthcoming Book:
Activating Democracy
The I Wish to Say Project
Motivated by her belief in the value of free expression that is guaranteed under our Constitution, Sheryl Oring’s I Wish to Say project has been helping citizens voice their concerns about the state-of-affairs in the US for over a decade now. In Activating Democracy Oring uses her own project as the starting point for exploring a series of issues tackled by artists working within the social practice genre of art. Featuring essays by contributors ranging from art historians and artists to those working in fields as diverse as literature, political science and architecture, the collection is intended to elucidate and unpack different frameworks employed by a wide spectrum of individuals working in a varied field. The juxtaposition of these perspectives will no doubt spark a dialogue among readers, and it is hoped that the book will serve as a resource and archive for innovative, cross-disciplinary ways of working that continue to transform the landscape of contemporary art.
ISBN - 978-1-78320-671-1
Ebook available
Available to pre-order from Chicago University Press in July
Projected publication date 16 September 2016
"I Wish to Say" Performance at College Art Association
Time: 02/04/2016, 12:00 PM—4:00 PM
Location: Registration Area, Lobby Level
Sheryl Oring brings her “I Wish to Say” performance to CAA, where conference goers are invited to dictate a postcard to one of the Presidential candidates. Oring, of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and colleague Dr. Corey Dzenko, of Monmouth University, will type postcards on manual typewriters as part of this ongoing public art project.
More information on “I Wish to Say:”
http://www.sheryloring.org/i-wish-to-say/
Presenter at the College Book Arts Association
Date: 01/08/2016
Location: College Book Arts Association Nashville, TN
2015
Learning on the Streets of New York
Sheryl's "Art in Odd Places" class at UNCG was designed to introduce students to art in the public realm. Students visited the New York festival and worked with artists there. Now they're developing their own projects. Check out this blog entry featured on the AiOP Blog.
Tampa International Airport Project
Sheryl was recently selected from a pool of 753 applicants as one of the finalists in a public art competition at the Tampa International Airport.
Franklin Furnace Fund Project:
Sheryl was recently selected as one of the new grantees at the Franklin Furnace Fund! There were 492 applications and she was one of the lucky ones. Stay tuned for info on a forthcoming project in New York.
I Wish to Say performance
July 25 (1 - 4 pm) and July 26 (3 - 6 pm)
at Out of Site Festival, Chicago
Travel Desk at SDIA
Pleased to announce that "Travel Desk" is now installed in Terminal 2 at the San Diego International Airport.
2014
Maueramt performance
9 November, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Berlin Wall Memorial
Bernauer Strasse at Strelitzer Straße
Berlin
Maueramt Exhibition Opening
6 November, 6-9 p.m.
Museum THE KENNEDYS
Auguststrasse 11-13
Berlin
Role Model - Dubai
4 November, 6-8 p.m.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood
Dubai / @ ISEA
Maueramt on Monday, October 13
11 am to 1 pm
At the TOP of the Viewing Tower
Bernauer Strasse at Acker Strasse
Maueramt performances
Sept. 4 - October 13
Berlin Wall Memorial, Bernauer Strasse, Berlin
Thursdays:
Acker Strasse/Bernauer Strasse, 11 am - 1 pm
Sundays:
near U-bahn Bernauer Strasse, 2- 5 pm
2013
Creating Collective Memory
Oct. 23
Reception 5:15 pm
Artist Talk 6:00 pm
Sloane Art Library
UNC Chapel Hill
More Info
The One and the Many:
Perspectives on Self and Other in Art and Human Rights Practices
Gallery 249
University of Dayton
Sept. 27 - Oct. 31
More Info
Art Madness
March 8 - 15
UNCG Art Department
More Info
2012
Required Reading: Printed Material
as Agent of Intervention
Curated by Yaelle Amir
The Center for Book Arts, New York
Oct. 3 - Dec. 15
More Info
Art Prospect Festival
St. Petersburg Russia
Performances on Sept. 20 - 22
I Wish to Say
Charlotte
Sept. 3
1 to 4 p.m.
At the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
420 South Tryon, Charlotte
100 Possibilities
College Art Association Conference
Los Angeles
Feb. 22 and 23
1 to 5 p.m.
Conference Registration Area
Concourse Foyer, Level 1
LA Convention Center
More Info
2011
Collective Memory
Bryant Park
New York City
Sept. 9 - 11
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
weather permitting
More Info
2010
Happy Day
Conflux Festival
New York
Oct. 9
More Info
Rilke's Offerings
Art in Odd Places Fest
New York
Oct. 1 - 10
More Info
I Wish to Say
Performance
01SJ Biennial
Sept. 17
More Info
I Wish to Say
In Book Power! exhibition
June 3 - 26, 2010
23 Sandy Gallery, Portland
More Info