At the Free Speech Corner adjacent to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, on Veteran’s Day 2007 Erin shaved her head as a response to the war in Iraq and other forms of oppression. In an effort to extend this gesture to the public, Erin offers to shave off the hair of those willing to make a commitment to peace. The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago invited the artist to present the Peace Salon as part of the on-going 12×12 series on Independence Day 2008.
The Peace Salon also serves as a space for critical analysis, thought and
dialogue. This space is telegraphed beyond the moment of having one’s head shaved and into the everyday interaction with the public.
This bold statement is a reminder that everyday when we look in the mirror that we cannot afford to be complacent, that we are part of a larger system. The personal transformation that participants will experience is a testament to our pledge for peace that we embrace in all aspects of our life – to release ourselves from attachment. It is this very attachment that drives this war, attachment to convenience, to our oil-dependent cars, to our lattes, and to our daily life.
The visual signifier is also meant to be a reminder to the American public that we are a country engaged in war, as well as a physical marker to extend our solidarity with the soldiers serving in Iraq and our determination to bring them home.
