In today’s society, it is very hard for an artist to get their work out into the world. Maybe it’s because there work is just too cookie-cutter or it doesn’t hold any depth too it. Whatever the circumstances may be, it makes it very difficult for the artist to be acknowledged by society. However, Sheryl Oring was able to break through this barrier and have her works of art become well known within today’s society.
Oring has created, and published, many different project series to the public. Her art mainly focuses around critical social issues relevant within today’s society. So she uses her pieces to get a grasp of the public’s opinion about said issues. Though Oring has had many different instillations and pieces under her belt, the one project that definitely demonstrates her call to hearing the public’s opinion on social issues is her piece titled "I Wish to Say." This piece is about Oring, and sometimes additional helpers, going out into the public with an old typewriter and having the public tell them what they would like to say to the current, or future, president of the United States. While the person is telling Oring, or her assistants, what they want to say, Oring is furiously typing away at the typewriter collecting every single word coming out of the participant’s mouth. Then once the person has gained some piece of mind from getting that off their chest, Oring snaps a little Polaroid photo of the participant and puts it together, with their letter to the president, and puts it into a book.
The point behind her "I Wish to Say" project is that people tend to hold a strong opinion either for or against the president of the United States. That being said, when people form these opinions about someone who is in control over so much power, they begin to build up a lot of resentment or love for said person. So no matter whether you hate or love this person, you usually have some form of advice to give to them. That’s why I believe that this project of hers truly exemplifies her message focusing on social issues and is an excellent work of art. Some people may not perceive this as art because the medium is typing/words, but whereas that’s why people don’t see it as art, I see it as a very clever and intricate form of art. By using the typewriter and sitting down with the participants, it creates this personal connection between Oring and the participant. So once this connection is established, the participant is able to open up and just let their advice and opinions, about our president, flow out of them. Thus allowing Oring to obtain some of the more raw and uncut opinions of the public about our president.
Personally when I had experienced her "I Wish to Say" project I was a bit timid at first. Waiting in line to have my thoughts typed up and sent to the president was very surreal and unsettling at the same time. Anticipation was consuming a good portion of me every time I became one person closer to the actual involvement of the piece. I kept thinking to myself whether or not I should go all out and say what I actually want to say, or whether I should just tone it down and play it cool. So when it was finally my turn and I sat down in the chair to voice my thoughts, Oring politely smiled at me and said “Hello Hannah!” Now, Oring already knew who I was before I sat down, because I was a student of hers in one of her classes, but even still, the moment she politely smiled at me and welcomed me into her space I immediately knew that I was just going to pour every ounce of hatred I held towards the 2016 election out of me and voice every opinion I held within me about it. It was honestly so stunning to witness the sudden change in my own opinion about the project, just by being personally connected with through the humbleness of the artist. That’s why this piece is so wonderfully successful.
It’s difficult to tackle social issues in today’s society, but Oring does a fantastic job of doing so through her art. Artist constantly face a social and lawful barrier these days when creating these pieces. They have to find and create creative ways to go around these barriers to break free of any restrictions. I believe Oring does a wonderful and peaceful way of doing so, by avoiding controversy through racy pieces and allowing her art to revolve around the public’s own voice and opinions. If the chance ever ariises for you to witness a piece of Oring’s art, more specifically her I Wish to say project, I would highly recommend doing so.
