FRANKE JAMES

Victory! Banned on the Hill Opening in Ottawa

by Franke James

Canada’s First Crowd-funded ArtShow On Outdoor Ads Protests Climate Artist’s Censorship

2014 Update: Buy Franke James’ award-winning book Banned on the Hill: A True Story about Dirty Oil and Government Censorship.

NOVEMBER 4, 2011: “Banned on the Hill” protests the Harper Government’s censorship of Franke James art work, and the muzzling of environmental scientists.

‘Banned on the Hill’ show hits Ottawa!

“Franke James’ commitment to art, free expression and political commentary put her in the cross-hairs of the Harper Government. Come and see what the government didn’t want the world to see.” ~ Elizabeth May, MP Saanich, Leader, Green Party of Canada

In exquisite timing which shows that truth-is-stranger-than-fiction, I got my Access to Information documents at the 11th hour before my crowd-funded protest artshow hit Ottawa (big thanks to Colin Mutchler at Loudsauce!) I opened the show yesterday. The bottom-line: The ATI docs prove that Government officials in the Climate Change office killed funding for my show.

CBC, Sun TV, Postmedia, MetroNews Ottawa, Carleton University Radio and others showed up for the opening. Show Business students from Montreal interviewed myself, Colin Mutchler and Charles Montpetit for a documentary on Arts Censorship in Canada.

There are six backlit posters in the “Banned on the Hill” show. They will be up until November 27th.

Franke James
It was a fabulous day! That’s me (Franke James) laughing as I opened my “Banned on the Hill” artshow in Ottawa on November 2/11. I gave a walking tour describing my art and the “blacklisting” by the Harper Government.

Franke James Crew
Film students from Montreal working on a TV documentary about arts censorship travelled to Ottawa to interview me, Colin Mutchler and my supporter, author Charles Montpetit on November 2, 2011.

Colin Mutchler
Colin Mutchler, co-founder, Loudsauce, in front of “Dear Prime Minister: Alice in Hell: The Dirtiest Oil on Earth” which is based on artwork from my 2008 Dear Prime Minister visual essay.

Franke Sun Hearing that SUN News was coming to interview me was a big surprise. But Brian Lilley, Host of Byline and I got along fine. Watch the interview.

Sidewalk
Unknown supporters drew wonderful environmental chalk drawings on the sidewalk to show support. “Dear Prime Minister, Why are we waging war on the environment?”

Franke James and Colin Mutchler
Here I am with Colin Mutchler, Loudsauce, in front of “Dear Prime Minister: Many Canadians joke that we could use a little global warming because the hard truths have been played down” from my 2009 Fat Cat Canada’s Giant Litter Box visual essay.

Leaders Loafing
“Dear Prime Minister: CO2 keeps rising but our leaders keep loafing. Will you take action before we’re all toast?” from my 2010 visual essay, “What Can One Person Do?”

Franke James I’m in front of my poster, “Dear Prime Minister, Please stop blacklisting our environmental messengers!” I’m holding one of the documents obtained through the Access to Information Request. See the highlights here.

Franke James CBC CBC News in Ottawa showed up to interview me and Colin Mutchler.

Franke James Ottawa Metro News interviewing me. I’m wearing my “Who’s the idiot who blacklisted Franke James?” button. See my Blacklisting Party for the matching poster.

Franke JamesBrian Lilley, Host of Byline promised not to edit my comments at all. I think he kept his word. Watch the interview.

Franke James I’m in front of “Dear Prime Minister: Alice in Hell: The Dirtiest Oil on Earth” from my 2008 Dear Prime Minister visual essay. I’m holding one of the documents obtained through the Access to Information Request.

Franke James
Close-up of Max Power, one of the film students from Montreal working on a TV documentary about arts censorship.

Franke James With Max in front of the Flamingo from my 2009 Fat Cat Canada’s Giant Litter Box visual essay.

Franke James
The six posters were on Bank Street, about a block from Parliament Hill. Thanks to Pattison Media for the great placement!

Franke James

Franke James

Franke James

Franke Flamingo

Franke James“You say the other parties are dangerous because they will tax polluters. But if we don’t tax polluters who will pay to clean up the mess?” artwork from my 2008 Dear Prime Minister visual essay.

Franke James
“Dear Prime Minister, Is it right to use the sky as a sewer?” based on artwork from my 2009 Fat Cat Canada’s Giant Litter Box visual essay.

Banned on the Hill Posters

Here is the artwork for the six “Dear Prime Minister” posters:
Dear Prime Minister, Please stop blacklisting our environmental messengers. Artists and scientists are the early warning system. Dear Prime Minister, The Tar Sands is Canada's biggest and fastest growing source of greenhouse gas pollution. Will our kids be angry that Alberta was ravaged? Less than 1% of of the land has been certified as reclaimed. Dear Prime Minister, Canadians Joke about global warming. Is that because the hard truths have been played down? Please stop muzzling our scientists.

Dear Prime Minister, you say that the other parties are 'Dangerous' because they will tax pollution. But if we don't tax pollution who will clean up the mess. Dear Prime Minister, CO2 keeps rising but our leaders keep loafing. Please do something before we are all toast. Dear Prime Minister, Is it right to use the sky as a sewer?

The Banned on the Hill Video


Photo and animation credits: Billiam James and Franke James

Read the visual essay: Banned on the Hill (and in Europe!)

Here are a few of the articles…

Vancouver Sun:
Government officials killed funding for Canadian artist: documents

Press release: PEN Canada and the Writers’ Union of Canada express concern over Government interference
“The government of Canada has no right to determine what is an acceptable opinion for an individual citizen, on climate change or any matter of public interest,” said Charlie Foran, President of PEN Canada, “To do so is clearly not in the spirit of the Charter and the long history of freedom of expression in Canada.”

Check out the full Blacklisting Index

121 Responses: 34 Comments and 87 Tweets

  • Edouard Stenger says:
    November 4, 2011 at 11:35 am

    Your art looks great in large posters ! Keep up the good work ! :)

  • GreenHearted says:
    November 4, 2011 at 11:52 pm

    Woohoo! You go, Girlfriend!!! I’m so glad this came together for you. Maybe you’ll still get to do your European tour somehow.
    Julie

  • Ian Stephen says:
    November 5, 2011 at 12:32 am

    Congratulations and thank you Franke James!

  • DamienD says:
    November 5, 2011 at 6:00 pm

    Duly impressed with your live presentation in Minden yesterday; kudos to you; a brave, articulate, and compassionate soul! I was particularly struck by your retelling the lengths to which our federal government has gone in order to keep a lid on your message, all while covering their tracks and complicity! What wonderful luck your freedom of information request panned out just as you were strolling into Ottawa! SHAME on Steven Harper for blacklisting you and Canadian scientists alike and for denying what he has done- Scientists and artists after all perform a most valuable public service- acting as the early warning system for our fragile and wonderful home planet!

  • Franke James » Banned on the Hill says:
    November 5, 2011 at 7:56 pm

    […] photos: Victory! Banned on the Hill Opening in Ottawa […]

  • Joanne Mills says:
    November 5, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    If the Canadian Government truly meant no harm, then perhaps they would like to make a large donation and get this show up and running for the summer of 2012.

  • Donna Baylis says:
    November 7, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Until recently I believed that, for the most part, Canadians were “green” — we recycle, we compost, we go camping, we pay attention to nuclear vs coal vs wind, we enjoy the great outdoors, we watch the follies in other parts of the world and feel righteous. But with this proposed limestone mega-quarry in Ontario I started to involve myself in the big picture and in the process, and its not pretty. I thought that Canadians were proud and independent thanks to our resources but I’ve learned that ‘having plenty’ is just a reason to squander. The thinking of our governmental bodies is short-term. Its shameful but as Franke says, “what can one person do?” Time to find out …

  • Carola Koitz says:
    November 7, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Congratulation Franke!

    Impressive, and as always also fun to look at! Hope its an eye opener for the Harper Government! What are you planning with the posters after Nov.27th? It would be great having them on display in Toronto for a while ( maybe a reason for another party :-), and then exhibit them in galleries, schools etc?

    Carola

  • Laurel L. Russwurm says:
    November 7, 2011 at 5:02 pm

    I think most Canadians want to do the best for our environment. The problem is that we trust our governments to do the right thing. All too often they don’t.

    It looks like a fabulous 1-woman-show to Occupy Ottawa with EnviroArt !

  • bill says:
    November 8, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    I wish your show could travel across Canada. I so admire what you have done for climate progress. In this country it takes some fortitude and smarts to stand up to the stratagems of the government. What words can be used to describe the acts of gagging free expression and the public release of scientific research findings? What words can be used to label this kind of corrupted democracy?

    Congratulations! This is a huge achievement, a worthy contribution. Thanks a whole bunch.

    Rock n roll, Sister.

  • susan huber says:
    November 9, 2011 at 12:16 am

    Franke, you are the best thing that has happened to our country in years and no, we are not “nice” — not when we consistently receive the Dinosaur of the Year award… we have to do more and I am sick and tired of hearing from people…”well, what can one do about all this?” Well, for one we can change our voting to proportional representation and vote these people out who in no way represent us and our views of what our world and the world has become. We can no longer deny what is happening … the small people like us know… it is the big people backed by the oil companies and banks who don’t care because they make money. Remember, dictators are [removed] in other countries whilst our own continue being dictators to supply the oil for other powers….if people can curb their appetites..then there would be no more demand to get more oil.
    BTW, where can we get some posters for us in the WEST Coast???
    All the best, from us, susan

  • Max says:
    November 9, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    GO FRANKE GO!!!!!!
    An inspiration for everybody!!! It’s in the whole world interest and we are 100% with you!!!!
    KEEP IT UP !!!!!

  • Kursten says:
    November 16, 2011 at 8:59 am

    Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  • Caroline Yull says:
    November 16, 2011 at 10:12 am

    While I am not necessarily in agreement with all of your assumptions about climate change, I am FULLY in support of your right to engage n the discussion, free from any kind of censorship/interference by the Gov. LOVE the billboard concept! In his face! Go, girl!

  • Ien van Houten says:
    November 16, 2011 at 3:03 pm

    Dear Franke,

    I have a feeling this will, in retrospect, be one of the best things that could happen to you. I would probably never have seen your work if it had not been for the item on The Current.
    I promptly shared it to Facebook. Others will do the same thing. Your work is delightful, glad to discover it. All the best.

  • Ken in Oil Country says:
    November 16, 2011 at 3:23 pm

    I appreciate your efforts at highlighting the need for governments to be more open and transparent rather than act as a fiduciary censor of what the citizens can say or learn. The inability of various level of government to recognize the need to embrace adaptation in the face of a changing climate is troubling. I am also troubled that the discussion of climate change is so focused on carbon emissions instead of understanding the impact of the total human footprint.

  • Andrew Bieler says:
    November 16, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    Thanks so much for your timely intervention!
    Harper’s idea of free speech = If your expression can aneasthetize TAR SANDS OIL into GREEN SPEAK, feel free to speak your mind, but if you wish to voice PERSONAL or COLLECTIVE critique of the tar sands and our blind climate change policy than we will ‘tar and feather’ you until your voice falls fallow

  • Katherine Wallis says:
    November 16, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    Heard you this morning on Ontario Morning… go Franke! Good for you to have the patience to go through the Freedom of Information hoops and red tape. The Harper legacy will haunt our kids for years to come. Thank you for your wonderful art and your willingness to speak out. You speak for me and many others who feel hopeless in the face of the current government and the environmental mess that they insist on ignoring.

  • Arlene Carson says:
    November 17, 2011 at 2:44 am

    Wonderful to hear your interview on the Current this morning, Franke! And I guffawed throughout Tom Flanagan’s “rebuttal” (some days one has to laugh extra strong if only to keep from crying)
    Keep up the great work….the medium is the message, and the arts lead the way!

  • Franke James » The intersection of Govt, Art and Politics: Franke James interviewed on “The Current” by Anna Maria Tremonti says:
    November 21, 2011 at 12:01 am

    […] ATIP highlights: Canada’s Climate Change office secretly killed approval for Franke James’ European art tour: govt documents reveal Backgrounder and Timeline: http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=8692 Blacklisting: Index of News and Posts Visual essay: Banned on the Hill (and in Europe!) Ottawa Artshow: Victory! Banned on the Hill Opening in Ottawa […]

  • Alan Donelson says:
    November 24, 2011 at 12:18 am

    I do not agree with your assessment of “global warming” (CO2) or “climate change” — I recommend you reexamine myths and lies surrounding that issue and, as well, check into “chemtrails” (aka geoengineering and now climate remediation) — AND I wholeheartedly agree with your efforts to put out to others that which you see and thin and believe. Remarkable to me that bureaucrats, high and low, would interfere so with your show. You hit a nerve, I suppose, the one near the brain center for hyprocrisy.

    Your art I find wonderful, delightful. May you enjoy peace, prosperity, and use your power more wisely than those who opposed you.

  • Ann says:
    November 25, 2011 at 12:32 am

    Hi Franke,

    I’d like to be able to wear one of your works on a T-shirt (maybe the CO2 keeps rising but our leaders keep loafing) to help keep the exhibit and the message going. Any chance of this happening? Harper couldn’t lock us up for wearing your artwork, could he? :0

  • Franke James says:
    November 25, 2011 at 11:29 am

    Ann,

    Great idea! This would fit like a “T”. I’ll email you when it’s available for ordering online.

    Franke

  • Karen Hanrahan says:
    November 26, 2011 at 4:42 am

    It’s astonishing to see this story franke as it’s continues to unfold. i can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see these billboards!! You are everywhere!!

  • Franke James » Why would Canada censor me — an environmental artist? Watch “Banned on the Hill”… says:
    November 28, 2011 at 9:41 am

    […] Banned on the Hill Posters in Canada’s Capital: Ottawa […]

  • Franke James » Ring! Ring! How would Sierra Club like to host a Green Conscience workshop in Ottawa? says:
    December 18, 2011 at 5:01 pm

    […] “Banned on the Hill” artshow was opening in Ottawa and I needed help on the ground… I spotted a post by John Bennett, the Director of Sierra […]

  • Franke James » Yahoo News: A Canadian artist takes on the Harper Gov’t says:
    December 20, 2011 at 11:38 pm

    […] says James raised money to display her environmental art work on bus shelters throughout Ottawa ensuring Canadian officials would take […]

  • C2 says:
    January 3, 2012 at 6:39 pm

    Just found out about this due to a comment on twitter…

    I can’t say I’m surprised. However, I have to wonder how embarrassing it must be to work in the department of foreign affairs when all you can do is knuckle under to the PM and do things you must know are wrong.

    Maybe your next poster series could be about the people working in government who are being forced to toe the line when it isn’t what they believe?

    Perhaps most importantly, congratulations on your work and congratulations on finding the truth. Don’t let anything as minor as the PM and his cronies get in your way!

  • William D. Bainter says:
    January 4, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    I honestly like the concept of expressing ideas in artistic form just like what Franke did. I salute you Franke. Nicely done.

  • Julius says:
    January 5, 2012 at 9:46 am

    Go Green!

    It’s time to make action ! Going green is good for us. When we live healthier and know that we are helping the planet it can make us feel better. And who doesn’t want to live in cleaner and safe earth?

    Nice job, Franke! Keep it up!

  • Tammy says:
    January 8, 2012 at 1:37 am

    Keep up the good work. Only thru media can change happen.

  • Clarice Ondrack says:
    January 25, 2012 at 3:38 am

    Congratulations Franke,

    I don’t know why I didn’t hear about your Ottawa enviro-political-art show sooner, but am still thrilled at how this whole thing has worked out. I had sent money to your sponsors for the 20 city tour, and was shocked to have it sent back. And in pursuing it with them shortly after found out about the Govt’s interference in it.

    I, and 2 of my friends, Claire and Bob, came to your house on (I think it was) Earth Day a couple of years ago, and had a great afternoon with you and others. I have loaned your book to several friends. Claire keeps hers on the little table in our waiting room at work for all to peruse. I am so happy that you took advantage of a yucky situation and it turned into a great experience for you and a terrific educational experience for many.

    With best wishes,

    Clarice Ondrack

  • Kathleen Tudor says:
    February 28, 2012 at 3:36 pm

    Why didn’t I know about this before! I guess because I live in the sticks. But I do watch the CBC and apparently they interviewed you. Did they broadcast the interview??? Good for you–amazing, delightful stuff.

  • Ann says:
    February 29, 2012 at 9:11 am

    Here is the Canada that I’ve been missing. Hooray Franke James! So odd that we live in this unproportionally represented government times and have to all sit through pushy big oil politics. I’m really hoping the younger generation will be less apathetic than Generation Y turned out to be. From an economic perspective, the generation I was born into (children of the baby boomers) is the first one to make less than our parents in awhile, and sometimes I think that we are “non-boat rockers” in order to benefit from the financial support of our parents. But my children’s generation will not likely have that same unconscious or conscious motivation to keep in their parents good books (the thing I am more likely to be able to give my eventual offspring is knowledge about how to grow vegetables and live in passive solar houses, not significant financial support), so perhaps that variable being out of the way will help youth to be more pro-active about questioning authority and the oil cartel.

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