Wanted

Wanted is a community-based art project that address the criminalization of youth in America.  It is presented in an art exhibition as well as on the streets of Harlem, New York. It resembles a series of police wanted posters which each features a “police sketch” of a young adult, a description of them and a statement of what they are wanted for.  For example “On Saturday May 17, 2014, at approximately 12:30 AM, a male black, 16-24 years of age was wearing a black waist length jacket and dark pants.  The male was observed engaging in conversation with other males.  The police allege that the suspect moved suspiciously when officers approached…”

It is a multifaceted project that included: public forums on the criminalization of youth, the creation of Wanted posters, for things aren’t illegal but for which the police harass Black and Latino youth, a forensic sketch session as performance art where adults described specific youth to a composite sketch artist, and the posting of the posters in barbershops and other business in Harlem and the dialogues needed for the posting.

A more detailed description of the project with full resolution downloads of the Wanted posters, documentation photographs and videos of the sketching can be viewed at wanted-project.com.  A direct link to the sketching session is here.