OP-ED: Americans send messages to the next president
Since mid August, I have been crisscrossing the country with my vintage typewriter, inviting people to share their messages for the next president through my performance project “I Wish to Say.” Dressed as a 1960s secretary, I aim to create an intimate space where citizens can voice their hopes, concerns, and aspirations for the nation’s future.
My collection presents a selection of messages typed during my 2024 fall tour, which has taken me from Pennsylvania to Florida, with stops in New York City, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and more. People of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs – students, retirees, business owners, teachers – have shared their thoughts with me. Using carbon paper, I create two copies of each message – one sent to the White House, the other preserved in my growing archive of over 4,500 postcards.
My tour will continue through the presidential inauguration and the administration’s first 100 days, with upcoming performances at Scripps College near Los Angeles and Hunter College in New York. I believe that the act of dictating to a stranger forces people to distill their thoughts. It also challenges people to articulate their deepest concerns with clarity and power.
To explore more messages from this ongoing project, visit my website at https://www.sheryloring.org/i-wish-to-say or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sheryloring/
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