Your Tax Dollars At Work

Your Tax Dollars At Work, Mondo Homo Arts Festival, May, 2011.

Disguised as a government-posted sign touting a public works project, the artwork was created for Atlanta-based Mondo Homo, which described itself as the “…South’s queer art, spoken word, dance party, hip-hop-electro clash, politics, film, BBQ, circus arts, theater, music, burlesque, social action diversity-lovin’ festival of fun queer space.”  As part of the festival, John Morse created Your Tax Dollars At Work, a commentary on the waste of  city taxes dollars in defending its police force against the botched raid on the Atlanta Eagle, in September 2009, that was widely understood to be illegal, homophobic and in violation of basic civil rights and decency.  The sign was installed during the festival on the outside wall of My Sister’s Room, a bar-restaurant in East Atlanta Village catering to lesbians.

2011, painted plywood, 4′ x 6′