Washing the Charging Bull on Wall Street with the Golden Rule

I wonder if the Golden Rule has any place on Wall Street. I began washing the iconic Charging Bull with a cloth that said LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. As I was scrubbing the bull clean, a group of Japanese tourists started rubbing the bull along with me. Maybe they thought it was for good luck and prosperity.

All the rest is commentary... Golden Rule Art Show and Performance Art in New York -- On view at the JCC in Manhattan through July 30

All the rest is commentary... installed at the JCC in Manhattan
*Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

All the rest is commentary... presents the Golden Rule from 12 world religions as a core vision of global human relations. This series of printed linen table cloths typographically unifies these translated versions of the Golden Rule as authoritative messages. My exploration of this universal tenet magnifies inherent meaning and searches for new content and questions.

All the rest is commentary... installed at the JCC in Manhattan
Photo ©2010 Beth Grossman


Public Table Talk on the relationship of the Golden Rule to our free market system
Photo ©2010 Erv Grossman

I hosted two Table talks in the gallery open to public participation. The first Table Talk was on the relationship of the Golden Rule to our free market system. The second one was on a different perspective on investing; considering the Golden Rule as a guiding principle as we invest in our future: children, education and health care. Everyone was truly thoughtful, self-reflective, resourceful and did not try to blame "Wall Street." I was moved as I listened to everyone struggle with the ethical issues of how hard it is to walk the talk. As we talked, we wrote and drew notes directly on a white table cloth. The Table Talk conversations were recorded, photographed and filmed by Keith Moreau.


Financial Experts' Table Talk on the possibilities of the Golden Rule as a guiding principle in our financial system
Photo ©2010 Erv Grossman

I asked financial industry insiders to do a self-evaluation of how effectively current financial practices fulfill the needs of the community and to consider the feasibility of the Golden Rule as a new code of conduct on Wall Street. This Table Talk was a soul searching and sincerely personal conversation.

Financial experts writing notes on the Table Talk cloth document
Photo ©2010 Erv Grossman


Table cloths as banners on Wall Street at the now vacant JP Morgan Building
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

While I was looking for financial experts to participate, we decided to take my art down to Wall Street. Angelisse Karol, Storrs Hoen, and Keith Moreau and I carried the table cloths with the Golden Rules down to the Stock Exchange. We stood with them on Wall Street as we talked with the public about the financial meltdown and the potential role of the Golden Rule in financial reform.


Table cloths as banners on Wall Street at the New York Stock Exchange
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media


Table cloths as banners on Wall Street at the New York Stock Exchange
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media


Golden Rule banners on Wall Street at the Federal Building with George Washington
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media


Golden Rule banners on Broadway at the Bull
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media


Beth washing the Charging Bull with a Golden Rule cloth
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

At one point, I began washing the bronze bull with a cloth that said LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. As I was scrubbing the bull clean, a group of Japanese tourists started scrubbing the bull with me. I think they thought it was an act for good luck and prosperity.

Japanese tourists rubbing the bull
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media


I wish to say a special thank you to all of my friends and family who came out to New York to assist participate in this Golden Rule Project. Thank you for your gifts of time and support.

All the rest is commentary...

All the rest is commentary…

Art Exhibit on the Golden Rule and Table Talk Performance Art Events

with Artist Beth Grossman at The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan

May 25th – July 30th, 2010

This series of table cloths created for the JCC in Manhattan presents versions of the Golden Rule from twelve world religions,

honoring cultural differences while underscoring a shared sensibility.

Opening reception Wednesday, May 26th

with an artist talk from 6PM – 7PM and a wine reception from 7PM – 8PM

Table Talk Performance Art Events Financial Table Talk – Thursday, May 27 at 7:00 PM
Beth Grossman will host an unusual Table Talk discussion with financial experts on the topic of the Golden Rule and its relevance
to today’s free market system. The public is welcome to observe and listen in the conference room at the JCC in Manhattan.

Public Open Table Talks – Tuesday, May 25, 4:30 – 6:00PM and on Tuesday, June 1st from 1:30 – 3:00PM
As we consider social issues from within the context of the Golden Rule, our struggles for personal and social moral actions

will be visually documented on a tablecloth and audio recorded.

The Laurie M. Tisch Gallery at The JCC in Manhattan

334 Amsterdam Ave at 76th Street, New York NY 10023 www.jccmanhattan.org/arts 646.505.5708

Visit Beth Grossman’s website www.bethgrossman.com
Contact Beth: beth@bethgrossman.com

All the rest is commentary...

Golden Rule: Christianity


Golden Rule: Judaism


Golden Rule: African Traditional Religion

Golden Rule: Jainism

Golden Rule: Islam

Golden Rule: Baha'i Faith

Golden Rule: Unitarian

Golden Rule: Sikhism

Golden Rule: Buddhism

Golden Rule: Hinduism

Golden Rule: Native American Spirituality

Golden Rule: Shinto

Artist Statement

All the rest is commentary refers to a story about Rabbi Hillel, a first century B.C.E sage, who was asked to teach the entire Torah while standing on one foot. He wisely responded, "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the law; all the rest is commentary; go and learn it."

Nearly every world religion has a version of the Golden Rule as a fundamental principle. This ethic of reciprocity insists that each individual has a right to just treatment and a responsibility to ensure justice for others. How might our world change socially, politically and economically if we were to treat others as we would want to be treated? And what if others want to be treated differently than we desire for ourselves?

I invite you to the table to consider the universality of the Golden Rule. The table is a gathering place for meals, conversations, teachings and prayers of gratitude. This series of 12 table cloths is based on variations of the Golden Rule collected from twelve world religions: the Baha’i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Native American Spirituality, Shinto, Sikhism, Unitarianism and Yoruba African traditional religion. Each expression of the Golden Rule suggests a characteristic sense of the religion’s unique culture.

This series of table cloths typographically unifies these translated versions of the Golden Rule. In the artistic tradition of Barbara Kruger and Jenny Holzer, I play with how the eye and the mind perceive these authoritative messages. My artwork magnifies what is inherent in the phrases and searches for additional content and questions. Using text from diverse Golden Rules, I have created a dynamic visual poetry.

If you combine words and phrases from the different table cloths, the texts may reveal new commentary.

Beth Grossman