Governors Island Swale House Water Room Exhibition
I was pleased to be invited to share some of my artworks/protest messaging in the Water room at Swale House alongside Rebecca Goyette on Governors Island.
I'd been working on a new sign idea: "Israel has drowned humanity and covered it in concrete". So when thinking about the Water Room, "From the River to the Sea", and water alone, I conveyed my thoughts about how long Palestinians have not controlled their water. "They can't even collect rain water." This was an opportunity to introduce conversations surrounding the occupation in Palestine to an audience otherwise expecting lighthearted Halloween fanfare. We must seize all opportunities.
From Amnesty International 2017: "Soon after Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, in June 1967, the Israeli military authorities consolidated complete power over all water resources and water-related infrastructure in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). 50 years on, Israel continues to control and restrict Palestinian access to water in the OPT to a level which neither meets their needs nor constitutes a fair distribution of shared water resources."
How long do we stay at "wits' end"? We as humans are not made to endure, let alone witness firsthand or virtually, these "hyper demonic" acts and images from Palestine and Sudan without retaliation. How long do we let peace boil?
“From The Water to The Water,” open house/art/live feed with Palestine was held Sunday, October 26th, 12-6 PM at the Water Room, Swale House Residency on Governor’s Island.
From the Water to the Water is an opportunity to surface, and “take a breath” in these transformative times, between actions while we try to save humanity from being drowned. A time and space to collect ourselves, our thoughts, allowing us to regain balance and strength through connecting, so our next actions can further resonate. So we can take a deeper dive to save humanity, from the river to the sea.
So we thought.
"Let me show you some of this hate-filled art," Adams said during his speech. "Putting a Jewish star on the robe of a Klansman, equating Zionism with Nazism and fascism, stating that you are a Hamas lover, and saying that Israel's existence is beyond the pale. Let me be very clear: This right here is beyond the pale."
Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers an Address to New Yorkers - NYC Mayor's Office. October 25th, 2025
This an excerpt from Mr. Adams Address to New Yorkers on October 25th, 2025
“History shows us how hatred begins on the fringes. It starts small, with a few artists trying to make a statement, with a few exhibits that go unnoticed by our leaders and institutions, with a few institutions that accept the hate and embed it into our culture.
Before we know it, hate moves to the mainstream, and once it is in the mainstream, it becomes much harder to mobilize against. We saw that with Apartheid. We saw that with the Holocaust. And I would be lying if I said I didn't see seeds of it planted within our own city government.”
My response:
Well Mr. Adams. I am here to tell you that I will continue to make and exhibit art that is indeed about hate. Hate for the holocaust, Hate for apartheid. Hate for the Oppressors. Hate for those who choose to starve, slaughter, rape a people and steal their land. No, I am not only talking about America, I am speaking of the so-called Jewish State of Israel. I will continue to make art about uniting for liberation and abolishing the terrorist state that prevents it. Hate does not feel good, therefore I make art, to search for some comprehension behind the demonic acts we witness on our phones, the injustices we see in our streets, that match those done to your own ancestors and the indigenous people before them, Mr. Adams. It helps me uncover truth. It leads me to “hate”. I will continue to speak out and draw conclusions about the oppressors, for you, so you can continue to lick their boots, instead.
Civil rights and freedom movements globally have made strides through art, which served as a tool for protest, raising awareness, and fostering community identity. This includes The Black Panther Party. Emory Douglas, considered the "Revolutionary Artist" for the Black Panther Party, created iconic illustrations and designed the layout for The Black Panther newspaper. His art helped define the party's visual identity, with imagery of empowered Black people and critiques of systemic oppression. He is currently on the Canary Mission list for promoting anti-Semitism, glorifying violence against Israel and supporting anti-Israel agitators. He is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and has rightfully demonized Israel on social media. Along with Emory Douglas; artists Gayle Asali Dickson, Malik Edwards, and Akinsanya Kambon accompanied Douglas on the BPP newspaper. Growing up in the Jim Crow era, through talent, perseverance, and serendipity, they became and remain artists today, despite the white mans restrictions on every aspect of their lives and dreams.
Art created in service to struggle continues to be used to challenge injustice, inform, distill messaging, mobilize support, and nurture camaraderie -all in an effort to propel movements for social and political change. The intention behind my protest art is to force people to confront their comfort with uncomfortable truths.
Recap of exhibit, the power it wielded against Zionist lynch mobs, and the predatory tabloid Paparazzi propagandists, by rebeccag0y_quilt48 on IG
ABOLISH ISRAEL
And
PALESTINE WILL BE FREE.