Tell HN: Please help Japanese Sculptor After His Guerrilla-Art Sparks Bomb Panic

5 points

14 years ago

Many of you might have read the New York Times article already about artist and designer Takeshi Miyakawa, who was arrested and charged this weekend for installing a piece of spontaneous public art in Williamsburg. Although it involved wires and electricity, it was completely harmless, he was charged for class D felony of reckless endangerment, the placing of false bombs, and criminal nuisance. He is being held at Riker's Island for 30 days and psych evaluation.

If you haven't read it, here is the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/nyregion/police-arrest-artist-takeshi-miyakawa-thinking-tribute-was-fake-bomb.html

Here is a slightly more sympathetic article on Art Info

http://artinfo.com/news/story/805277/friends-rally-behind-japanese-sculptor-after-his-guerrilla-art-love-letter-to-nyc-sparks-bomb-panic

The lighting fixtures he was installing was designed to coincide with his commission for Designboom's booth at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. You can read more about that here.

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/21274/brooklyn-artist-takeshi-miyakawa-arrested-for-planting-false-bombs.html

The last article points to a few ways you can help. (If you have any experience or expertise with something like this, please also contact Louis Lim [email protected])

* sign the official designboom petition to free takeshi miyakawa http://www.thepetitionsite.com/525/661/531/demand-justice-for-artist-takeshi-miyakawa/

* spread the word via e-mail, facebook, and twitter

* join the 'free takeshi miyakawa' facebook group

* keep updated at the takeshi wiki http://takeshi-miyakawa.wikispaces.com/

* e-mail NY mayor michael bloomberg http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

* e-mail or call district 33 city council representative stephen levin at [email protected] / 718-875-5200