An anti-Trump art installation by Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf of the Transformers franchise and Albuquerque-based indigenous activist group, The Red Nation has been shut down in the Albuquerque downtown area after reported gunshots, safety concerns and vandalism.
The audience-participatory performance artwork titled HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US had already been forced to relocate from the Museum of the Moving Image in New York earlier this month for “creating a serious and ongoing public safety hazard for the Museum, its visitors, staff, local residents, and businesses.”
When the art installation—which incorporates the use of a livestream camera mounted on a wall emblazoned with the words “He Will Not Divide Us”—was relocated to Albuquerque, LaBeouf teamed up with The Red Nation group to unveil the piece to the area.
The installation had recently been vandalized and the camera covered in pink spray paint. It was also reported someone flashed a gun to the camera.
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Shia LaBeouf tweeted, “We have taken the stream down after shots were reported in the area. The safety of everybody participating in our project is paramount.”
On February 18, 2017, the project relocated to a wall outside the El Rey Theater, Albuquerque. A gathering of street folk, including preachers, activists, Native residents and individuals wearing anonymous masks, gathered near the livestream camera mounted on a wall just off Central Avenue.
Some held signs while others spoke into the camera embedded in the wall. People laughed, cars drove by, some slowly, some fast. Some people supported the installation, some yelled out “Trump!”
According to the HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US website, the art installation was a participatory performance artwork created by LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner that was “Open to all, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and was to be live-streamed continuously for four years, or the duration of the presidency.”
Red Nation council member Melissa Tso explained how the installation made the transition to Albuquerque from New York. “I approached Luke Turner and Shia LaBeouf as they were working on their art installation at the El Rey Theater in Albuquerque,” Tso said. “After some discussion about Native issues and my work with The Red Nation, Shia LaBeouf invited me to start the He Will Not Divide Us mantra for the Albuquerque live stream.”
“I accepted the invitation. Luke and Shia both encouraged me to mobilize Red Nation supporters to unite against Donald Trump on the opening day. I started the chant on opening day, and Red Nation supporters led various chants alongside Shia LaBeouf, who chanted and danced with us.”
“Solidarity work is a critical piece in the movement against the machine.”
There have not been any reports to revitalize the project.
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More about the project here and on the official website.