Art Car as “Weapon of Mass Instruction”

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Art Car as “Weapon of Mass Instruction”


(photo by Raul Lemesoff)

Art Car or Book Tank? A little bit of both I’d say. Built from a welded frame atop a 1979 Ford Falcon (a vehicle popular with the then-ruling military junta), Argentinian art-car maker Raul Lemesoff drives around the streets of Buenos Aires distributing free books to all – titled Arma De Instruccion Masiva, or Weapon of Mass Instruction, Raul will pull over for anyone asking for a free book! Motorcyclists and pedestrians will even take books off his car while he’s stopped at lights. Stocked with private-donation books, one of Raul’s main objectives is – and I’m translating here – “to contribute to peace and understanding of people [through literacy].” This includes not only tours through Argentina’s urban capital, but also trips into the countryside where many children don’t attend school – and after many years in Argentina, Raul has recently plotted trips north to Bolivia and Peru. Fascinating!

'Raul Lemesoff, an Argentine art-car artist, has taken a 1979 Ford Falcon that used to belong to the Argentine armed forces and turned into a 'Weapon of Mass Instruction.' Armed with 900 or so books Lemesoff travels the streets of Buenos Aires and beyond offering free books to all. He sees his 'Weapon of Mass Instruction' as a "contribution to peace through literature."
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[via Post Growth – thanks Jason for the tip!]

21 thoughts on “Art Car as “Weapon of Mass Instruction”

  1. Matthew Krawczun says:

    the most dangerous of weapons

  2. danza con lobos says:

    la magia lo atravieza a ese hombre

  3. Raymond Huber » Blog Archive » Weapons of Mass Instruction says:

    […] free books all over Argentina, including to rural areas where there are few schools. Read about him in English or visit his Spanish […]

  4. se viene un BLUFF DE OBAMA, tan parecido al BLUFF de Bush, sobre armas de destruccion masiva? « Marcelo Sigol, Blog personal says:

    […] Art Car as “Weapon of Mass Instruction” (makezine.com) […]

  5. Weapon of Mass Instruction, An Art Car Tank That Gives Out Books says:

    […] via Make […]

  6. "Weapon of Mass Instruction" is a Mobile Library That Disseminates Free Books in Argentina | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building says:

    […] Raul Lemesoff’s “Arma De Instruccion Masiva“, or “Weapon of Mass Instruction,” may seem militant but it’s actually a […]

  7. Book Tank | | Spiked CoffeeSpiked Coffee says:

    […] (MAKE | Art Car as “Weapon of Mass Instruction”) Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share on google plus Pin it on […]

  8. Tata's Electric Micro Bullet-Proof Vehicle vs. Gas Powered Weapon Of Mass Instruction - News, Reviews, Videos | Jubbling.com says:

    […] Raul Lemesoff’s gas powered “Arma De Instruccion Masiva” that was built on a vehicle normally used for war but now drives around Argentina handing out donated books. Jubbling loves the electric vehicles but […]

  9. Learning Goes BOOM! Check out the “Book Tank” - Good News says:

    […] Raul Lemesoff is happy when people steal parts from his tank–especially while he’s driving it around on the streets.  The Argentinian artist built his “book tank” in order to bring free books to the people of Buenos Aires.  Each year he  donates thousands of books, often to passersby who browse the collection while he’s paused at a stoplight, snagging a story that looks good for their journey.  He calls his vehicle–appropriately enough–a “Weapon of Mass Instruction.” […]

  10. 全球大嘴巴第一期 : 陽光時務 says:

    […] 阿根廷藝術家Raul Lemesoff把一輛坦克開到了布宜諾斯艾利斯的街上,但人們並沒有避開,反而站到了坦克的砲管前——那裡有大量的圖書。坦克上的書都是私人捐贈的,大家只需要在街上看到他的坦克時揮手招停,便可免費取走。Lemesoff說他希望自己的創意可以「為人民帶來和平與知識」。他還將帶著他的書去阿根廷的偏遠地區,因為那裡的孩子更加沒有上學和讀書的機會。現在他正在去往玻利維亞和秘魯的路上。 投下知識,而非炸彈。 […]

  11. Weapons of Mass Instruction: tancul bibliotecă by Raul Lemesoff « Bookaholic says:

    […] Makezine, Peacetour.org, […]

  12. 陽光時務 iSunAffairs » 全球大嘴巴 says:

    […] 阿根廷藝術家Raul Lemesoff把一輛坦克開到了布宜諾斯艾利斯的街上,但人們並沒有避開,反而站到了坦克的砲管前——那裡有大量的圖書。坦克上的書都是私人捐贈的,大家只需要在街上看到他的坦克時揮手招停,便可免費取走。Lemesoff說他希望自己的創意可以「為人民帶來和平與知識」。他還將帶著他的書去阿根廷的偏遠地區,因為那裡的孩子更加沒有上學和讀書的機會。現在他正在去往玻利維亞和秘魯的路上。 投下知識,而非炸彈。 […]

  13. unconsumption: ianbrooks: Weapon of Mass Instruction Built from a welded frame atop a 1979 Ford Falc | otpglobal.org says:

    […] (via: make / laughingsquid) […]

  14. | I Am David Lawrence says:

    […] (via: make / laughingsquid) […]

  15. The Mighty Mighty PEN « Peace For Sale says:

    […] Here’s more about the picture and artists:  BOOK TANKS […]

  16. ไอเดีย… จุดประกาย “ห้องสมุดประชาชน” | OKMD | Office of Knowledge Management and Development Thailand says:
  17. Arma De Instruccion Masiva « The Bee Meeting says:

    […] Raul Lemesoff, artista e attivista, vive e lavora in Argentina. Qui ha dato vita al progetto “Arma De Instruccion Masiva”, trasformando un carro armato in una libreria ambulante. Anche in questo caso, come in Musicleta Juanita, il servizio offerto è completamente gratuito: Raul gira per le strade della città chiedendo a ciclisti, autisti, passanti, se desiderano un libro. Una volta accostato, il carro armato-libreria offre la possibilità di scegliere tra più o meno 900 volumi: romanzi, saggi, raccolte di racconti di ogni genere. I libri provengono da donazioni private e secondo Raul sono il modo migliore per dare un contributo alla pace.  E per stimolare in ognuno di noi la voglia di comprendere, condividere, trasmettere. Cose positive, s’intende. […]

  18. Arma de instrução massiva | Bruno Miguel says:

    […] para a paz através da literatura” foi o móbil de Raul Lemesoff para criar a “Arma De Instruccion Masiva“: um veículo militar de 1979, o Ford Falcon, convertido numa biblioteca itinerante em forma […]

  19. tumblr backups says:

    […] (via: make / laughingsquid) […]

  20. 10 most extraordinary mobile libraries says:

    […] ⇢ Credits and more info / Via Make […]

  21. down the Bookmobile rabbit hole | normalblog says:

    […] of course this only reminds me of this “Weapon of Mass Instruction” book-art car by Raul […]

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I'm an artist & maker. A lifelong biblioholic, and advocate for all-things geekathon. Home is Long Island City, Queens, which I consider the greatest place on Earth. 5-year former Resident of Flux Factory, co-organizer for World Maker Faire (NYC), and blogger all over the net. Howdy!

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