Artist Encourages Public Participation by Inviting Letters Addressed to the Next US President
### Sheryl Oring’s Political Performance Art: Typing America’s Hopes for Future Presidents
For performance artist **Sheryl Oring**, an old-fashioned secretary’s uniform and a vintage typewriter are more than just props—they are tools for amplifying the voices of everyday Americans. Since 2004, Oring has embraced these tools in her powerful and ongoing performance series titled **”I Wish to Say”**. Through this project, she has typed over 4,500 postcards on behalf of various citizens, offering a unique, participatory platform for the public to address messages to future US presidents.
One of the hallmarks of Oring’s work is her careful attention to the desires, anxieties, and aspirations of the American electorate. Each message she types captures personal concerns, hopes for policy changes, or an emotional plea from individuals who visit her performances. The project began during the 2004 U.S. presidential election and has continued every election cycle, with every new administration adding layers to her growing archive of postcards. Notably, she keeps carbon copies of each message, documenting these handwritten notes into a larger historical collection of American sentiment.
### A Secretarial Uniform Meets Public Expression
Oring’s creative process is deeply intertwined with her chosen aesthetic: a convincing 1960s secretary uniform and functional typewriter. These choices symbolize not only a bygone era of communication but also the professional workspaces traditionally dominated by women, including her own grandmother, who was a secretary in the Political Science department at the University of Maryland. Oring’s use of the typewriter is deliberate—it offers an exploration of how the medium of communication can influence thought, civility, and engagement.
The inherently slow and meditative process of typing on a typewriter contrasts with the fast-paced, often reactionary forms of digital communication that we are accustomed to today. For many younger participants, seeing a typewriter for the first time is in itself an educational and thought-provoking moment. This interaction is not purely nostalgic; it invites participants to carefully ponder what they want to convey and select words more judiciously.
As Oring noted, she finds that her presence, symbolized through the uniform and typewriter, allows for more reflective thoughts from her participants. “It’s quite different to go out with a typewriter than it would be to go out with just a piece of paper or a computer,” she explained. “It really attracts people.”
### Chronicling a Nation’s Concerns, Election Cycle After Election Cycle
In her recent performance on **November 5, 2024**, at the **Free Library of Philadelphia**, Oring set up her typewriter station for swing-state residents to express their hopes for the upcoming election. As a pivotal state in U.S. elections, Pennsylvania’s voice is often magnified, and Oring commented on the emotional weight of the day. “Everyone’s saying that Pennsylvania is going to decide the election,” she said, reflecting on her own ties to the state, where she previously worked at the University of the Arts before it closed earlier this year.
The themes people discuss with her often reflect the key issues of the moment. Since she began the project, there has been a noticeable shift in the messages participants choose to send. Earlier cycles, for instance, saw notable concerns about the **Iraq War** and **same-sex marriage**. In 2024, a growing emphasis has emerged on topics such as **climate disasters**, **reproductive rights**, and **the impact of gun violence**, indicating how both individual priorities and national discourses evolve with each election cycle.
One consistent theme, however, remains the anxious hope for unity in a polarizing political environment. At various points in her project this year, Oring noted that students worried about affording housing after college or the potential rollback of civil rights, particularly for marginalized groups.
### Capturing the Voices of Citizens Across the U.S.
Philadelphia marked Oring’s final public appearance before Election Day, though the 2024 pre-election tour started earlier in August. During this event, students from **Revolution School**, a local private high school, joined Oring in analyzing the gathered letters as part of a history project. These moments, alongside displays of the postcards she collects in public spaces like the Free Library of Philadelphia, help cement the deeply collaborative and educational aim of her work.
From New York to North Carolina and Florida, Oring’s tour this year captured a wide variety of sentiments. One memorable postcard simply read, “**Don’t forget about Puerto Rico**,” a plea reflecting concerns on how often the U.S. territory is sidelined in nationwide discussions. Another card from a participant in Florida revealed heartbreak after hurricanes destroyed their home, signing off as “**Homeless Howard**.” Many people choose to address their letters to **”Madame President”**, echoing a wish for female leadership just as it was when Hillary Clinton ran in 2016.
As Oring humbly notes, “People’s messages