Artist brings a piece of the Iraq War home

Iraq has fallen out of the headlines, but the United States still has 130,000 troops at war there. Tomorrow, a little over six years since the start of the war, an artist will bring a work to a Philadelphia street corner that is meant to get people talking.

Iraq has fallen out of the headlines, but the United States still has 130,000 troops at war there. Tomorrow, a little over six years since the start of the war, an artist will bring a work to a Philadelphia street corner that is meant to get people talking. From WHYY’s Arts and Culture Desk, Alex Schmidt reports.
Caption: A look at what the bombed vehicle will look like
Transcript:
An Iraqi citizen sitting at 5th and Arch might find it difficult to get the public’s attention these days. But park an American soldier and a rusted, bombed-out vehicle from Baghdad next to him, and passers by just may perk up. The interactive piece, which will be at Independence Mall on Saturday, is designed to stimulate discussion, says artist Jeremy Deller particularly at a time when national attention seems to be focused elsewhere.

Deller: “In a sense it’s a little nudge or reminder, but also by bringing the car you’re bringing a piece of evidence. It’s definitely a piece of material culture, the kind of thing you might see in a museum in 20 years, but we brought it over to show the public.”

The intended conversation on Independence Mall will be followed by a more in-depth discussion in the evening at the Slought Foundation.

Listen:
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[audio: arts20090327iraq.mp3]