Confronting Bodies: San Francisco State University
Date of Action: April 1997
Specific Location: A display case at San Francisco State University's Muni stop, San Francisco, CA.
Description of Artwork: A series of posters lampooning Citibank's "In Your Dreams" billboard campaign. The posters featured such figures as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Che Guevara with the artist's slogans replacing the bank's ad copy. The Guevara piece, for example, states, "In your dreams, everyone is treated equally.... And your bank sponsors socialist revolutions." The name Citibank has been changed to Citybank, and the artist created a different logo on the advice of a copyright lawyer.
Description of Incident: While Cox's posters were on display at the Muni stop, SFSU president Robert Corrigan ordered their removal after receiving a call from Citibank threatening a lawsuit.
Results of Incident: The posters were put on display at the university's Art Department Gallery. Cox responded to the incident by stating, "It speaks to the ever increasing corporate control of culture and also the links between universities and corporations."
Source: sfbg.com, twcdc.org, NCAC