The largest anti-nuclear demonstration in U.S history took place in New York in the spring of 1982.  The catalyst for this outpouring of opposition to the nuclear arms race was recent news of the Neutron Bomb which was designed to kill millions of people without destroying buildings.  This fifteen minute sound portrait weaves music, effects and  interviews with a variety of artists, choreographers and poets who were part of that creative opposition.

Interviews include the famous portrait painter, Alice Neel — then 82 —  and a new provocative young artist, Joseph Nechvatal,  choreographers Myrna Packer and Mel Wong – each doing very different work, poet and activist, June Jordan, along with a 16 yr old drama student and a young 9 year old poet.  It was aired on the new, at that time, Sunday Arts Journal, NPR, 1982.

Joseph Nechvatal believes his work is deep, reflective and thoughtful — all qualities and values he hopes to encourage. He believes this is such a big public issue and hopes that his work has had an impact.

Mel Wong never thought of himself as a political artist yet he wants to do work that is strong in its message to make people mad and make them think.  For this project, he included a prologue before each of this dances contrasting the cold, calculating nature of the planners of such weaponry with the humanistic dance that follows.

Myrna Packer says this is the first time she has wanted to do work with political content, but she’s worried it will be too blatant. Their work is usually much more subtle.  Most of her work includes words and text so this is an opportunity to be more provocative.

June Jordan hits the issues more directly in her poetry, but with edge and humor…using some of the language from politicians and policy folk who are rationalizing this new weaponry.  “I try to lead people to more independent awareness.”

Alice Neel sees herself following the humanistic impulse as she insisted on staying with the human form while all of her peers moved to abstract expressionism.