Poll / Pole wordplay

Historically poles have always been a form of public expression. That’s when they say “the public’s going to the polls”, they’re talking about democracy where everyone gets their say.  Recently, however, in modern times neighbourhood power poles have been a medium of expression used mostly by vandals “tagging” messages often of implied violence.  That is why I was so moved on May 28^th to see the people living in the community of Fernwood taking part in the Pole Painting Project and by doing so literally taking back the polls. Empowering themselves and retaking the medium of the wood power poles, in the broad daylight painting images of hope and love symbols of a community they would like to be part of: Old ladies panting over the scrawled letters with images of flowers in bloom, scenes of serenity and harmonious community, artful giraffes, serene gold fish wrapping around the staple poked face of the lowly public utility poll.  The community came together, people of different races, creeds, ages and social economic position came together with one intention: beautify

Fernwood as a community said, these are our poles, this is our democracy and this is what we want and took them away from the night time violent gang symbol-taggers. Not surprisingly when the Fernwood community empowered themselves striking a blow to the vandals, under the cover of the night the vandals  hit back stealing paint and going on a rampage, defacing houses, fences, business signs and even a car tire!  The vandals targeted Fernwood, Victoria because Fernwood had the audacity to fight back…