Paul Ramírez Jonas
Artist in the Public Realm









Broadside  3, 2009




︎︎︎


   


MATERIALS:  Unfired clay, portable lectern, oath (I do solemnly swear that I have not any property, real or personal, exceeding $20, except such as is by law exempt from being taken on civil process for debt; and that I have no property in any way conveyed or concealed, or in any way disposed of, for my future use or benefit. So help me God.)


    A portable lectern serves as a pedestal for an oath typed on a tablet of unfired clay. Should you choose to use the microphone, the lectern can also amplify and broadcast your voice. Oaths are another form of score; the one presented is ready to be performed by you. Does the oath's power come into effect only when it is read out loud and repeated word for word? Or is a silent reading enough?