In the late 1970s, artist John Fekner began a relentless crusade concerned with urgent social and environmental issues in NYC. Starting in the industrial streets of Queens and the East River bridges, and then in the South Bronx in 1980, his stenciled messages appeared in areas that were desperately in need of construction, demolition or reconstruction. By labeling decaying structures and emphasizing problems, Fekner’s objective was to call attention to the accelerating deterioration of the city by urging officials, agencies and local communities to take action. These interventions were ephemeral and were never intended to last. They succeeded when the underlying conditions they made visible were remedied.