Where is Ai Weiwei?: June 2011

Continue to make art for Ai Weiwei and send it to CHINA

Artist and activist, Ai Weiwei, was released on June 22, 2011 only after promising not to speak to reporters or leave Beijing.

Here is how we can continue to press the Chinese government to restore Ai Weiwei's right to speak and travel.

Each individual who visits this blog creates a work of art, or letter or poem on behalf of Ai Weiwei.

Photograph your artwork and email it to me (72dpi/800K max)

whereisaiweiwei2011@gmail.com

so I can post it here, and we can keep track of how many of us there are.

Then mail your "message" to one of the following individuals in China, or to the Chinese Ambassador in Washington DC.

(President)
HU Jintao Guojia Zhuxi
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie
Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of China

Email: gov@govonline.cn
Salutation: Your Excellency

(Premier)
WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie
Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of China

Salutation: Your Excellency

(Ambassador)
ZHANG Yesui
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
3505 International Place NW
Washington, SC 20008

Fax: 1.202.495.2138
Email: chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn
Salutation: Your Excellency

Why will this work? As Ai Weiwei has shown, one person can change the world.
For decades I have written letters on behalf of political prisoners through Amnesty International. Is my letter important? Not really. But when I am one of tens of thousands who write letters, together we have the power to win the freedom of those who are unjustly oppressed.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Ai Weiwei Released on Bail

Please read this New Yorker blog on
Ai Weiwei's conditional release today.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2011/06/ai-weiwei-diplomacy-and-freedom.html

Photo: Reuters

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Virginia Commonwealth Design student project.
Image sent to Premier WEN Jiabao on
Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Protect the Children from Harm
mailed by Tallon to
Director of Security
BAI Xiaokong Juzhang
on Monday, June 20, 2011

Ghost Dancer mailed
by Kim Chalmers to
Premier WEN Jiabao
on Monday, June 20, 2011

Monday, June 13, 2011

Who is Ai Weiwei?

Ai Weiwei (arrested on April 3 and conditionally released on June 22, 2011) is an artist and activist who, against all odds, fights for freedom of expression in China. He was imprisoned for three months as part of a crack down on dissidents.
Watch this Frontline video to learn about his use of blogs, twitter and his cell phone to take on the Chinese government.

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

This photo (and the two seeds) were sent by Jean Grosser to President Hu Jintao on Wednesday, June 8, 2011