ABSOLUT (ELY) NO INTEGRITY

SummerCAMP

In spring of 2011, Clarion Alley Mural Project was contacted by two PR firms on behalf of Absolut Vodka - Therese Vreeland with EVB productions and Teresa Rad, Director of Art Production at TBWA/Chiat/Day. Both wanted to shoot artists and murals on the alley. I communicated that I would need to check with the two other organizers at the time (CUBA and Jet Martinez); however, it was highly unlikely given CAMP's policy against corporate promotion, sponsorship ties, etc. Following  several days of email exchanges and phone conversations, I conveyed that I wouldn't have an answer until the following week, reiterating the likelihood that it would not be okay and in the interim it was definitely NOT okay to do any shoots.

However, rather than respecting CAMP's wishes, Therese Vreeland and EVB completely disrespected our request and went ahead and filmed anyway - without permission - and used the footage for Absolut's campaign. Absolut's complete disregard of CAMP's wishes reflects the corporation's sense of entitlement and disrespect for the very community that it's using - read: contemporary colonialism or ABSOLUT CRAP!