Information for Peace and Democracy

Information for Peace and Democracy was a public art installation by Brett Cook and Bronx and Manhattan community members, developed in conjunction with the Bronx Museum’s 2001 exhibition, One Planet Under a Groove: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art.

Created shortly after and in response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the project provided a forum for discussion among New York City residents on maintaining a peaceful and democratic society, at a time when New York City had the attention and focus of the global community. Eight residents of Manhattan and the Bronx developed interview questions focused on defining and describing peace and democracy. The questions and subsequent responses informed the creation of five vibrant and colorful graffiti-style paintings, which incorporated billboard-sized portraits of each of the participants, text inscriptions excerpted from the participant-generated interviews, and transcriptions of interviews conducted by Cook. The portraits were installed on the sides of buildings and fences in South Bronx neighborhoods frequented by the participants.

Information for Peace and Democracy was part of the Bronx Museum’s Collaborative Art Projects (CAP): Artists in Community Residencies, a public education program designed to cultivate communities through creative work and collaboration.