City Voice Catalogue

A team of three artists collaborated on this project to identify the collective characteristics of the people of Seattle.  The information gathered thus became a personalized work of art. The artists’ statement describes the project: “City Voice is a grand-scale participatory identity project by, for and about the people of Seattle. It began when City Voice Express Yourself Sweepstakes entry forms were mailed to 10,000 randomly-selected city residents. These lucky individuals were asked to use their imaginations and the materials provided to creatively reflect on various elements of their lives. Returned entries became eligible for one of two prizes: “Citizen of the Day” or a color TV. A random drawing took place on June 23, 1993, officiated by a member of the Seattle Arts Commission. On September 23, 1993, the grand prize winner, Mr. Ed Mast, exercised his duties as Citizen of the Day, investigating and enjoying the physical, social and political wonders of our great city. This scrapbook is a collection of photos, graphics and press clippings which document the City Voice project from inception to completion.” - from Seattle Collects Seattle, Beth Sellars, Independent Curator, 1997