Guns and Needles
In 1989, I wrote and recieved my first grant. The DC Comission for the Arts awarded funding for Guns and Needles, a proposed intervention in one of the most notorious drug alleys in Washington, DC. Now the site of million dollar condos, back then BMWs, Jaguars, and other veicles from several sates converged at night to score mostly heroin and cocaine, zipping in and out of the area. The place was hoppin. We likened it to the Wild West. Geographically, there were several avenues and alleys in and out of this active drug den, making it a prime spot for all kinds of nefarious activities. One of the alleys was right next to 57N st NW, a two-story brick building in the middle of a residential block, that housed artists studios, including mine. There were some of us that lived and worked there. One block away was the intersection of New York Avenue and North Capitol. Gunshots were common; some through my studio windows. Typically, all the violence that occured was usually between dealers and buyers. They generally left us alone.Â
With Guns and Needles, Krystyna Puc' (now my wife) and I set out to excavate a small plot in the manner of an acheological dig. Krys, a historian, had spent time on several digs so she was the perfect partner. The area has blocks of houses and empty plots where houses once stood. We selected a 15 x 15 ft dirt plot, gridded the space, and slowly began a methodical sifting of the dirt and material, as one would in any archeological effort. Slowly, layer by layer, using brushes and trowels, we found marbles, bits of metal and glass, a set of concrete steps, bricks and cobblestones, and other discarded items. The neighborhood kids were really curious, hanging out with us, asking lots of questions, and gladly offered to help. That was a gift to us and a pleasant surprise. To their credit and our delight, they became the projects' gatekeepers for a while after the project was completed, ensuring that it was clean and telling others about what it was and their involvement in it.Â
DB, the fabricator
But this being an art project; a commentary of this history, past and present, I fabricated a few items and buried them in a manner that looked as though they were also part of the uncovered finds. Two large items, a six foot Colt 45 revolver and a 4 and 1/2 foot concrete hypodermic needle were joined by assorted doll heads and body parts, and a few other goodies.Â