From artist Norm Magnusson: I’m raising funds on Kickstarter for a project to install one of my ‘historical’ markers in each of the 27 travel plazas of the New York State Thruway. I’d love you to join me in this project. The Kickstarter campaign runs through March 20, 2013.

These are sculptures of cast aluminum and acrylic paint. They look just like the historical markers found on country roads, in front of stone houses, or near scenic overlooks all over America, but instead of commemorating the site of a battle or a place where a famous person slept, these markers deal with contemporary social issues such as gender wage disparity, global warming, illegal immigration, taxes, health care and many, many others.

The markers are expensive to make. The cost of materials keeps going up. Fabrication, installation, transportation, assistants, insurance, van rental, rewards and fulfillment… it all adds up and all of a sudden, it’s a pricey project. 7 people at $10,000 each or 7000 people at $10 each or some combination thereof will get me going. But I don’t just need money, I’m also going to need help installing these things, so if you’re interested in digging holes and planting poles, please let me know.

See more from Norm Magnusson here and here.

Submitted by Norm Magnusson:

Norm Magnusson exhibition at Bard College at Simon’s Rock
“Descent into the Political”
October, 19 – November 20, 2009

How does it happen that an artist decides to create political art? What is the proper goal of political art? Does it even need a goal? What about art in general?

This exhibition provides an answer to those questions and more as it tracks one artist’s career from his early days creating lovely paintings of animals to today, when his primary thrust is to create evocative public art pieces. For more information visit descentart.blogspot.com.

From Norm Magnusson:

Greetings far-flung art lovers,

In case you missed my recent installation of “Youth Culture in America”…

. . . here are some upcoming exhibitions to put on your calendar:

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Update 5-28-07: “Norm Magnusson: On This Site Stood” will be on exhibition at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut, June 24 through August 12, 2007.

Originally posted 4-1-07:

For the past few years I”™ve been striving to create art of social conscience with the soft touch that lets it points-of-view resonate and not alienate. (more…)