The demonstration has been performed numerous times at multiple venues. The banner represents a news ticker — Szyhalski said he felt prompted to make a response piece after seeing wealthy businessmen drinking champagne and laughing at the protesters on Wall Street from their rooftops.

The banner read, “THEY STEAL YOUR MONEY AND YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY LIVE AND PROFIT. YOU DIE IN DEBT. THEY EXPLOIT YOUR CHILDREN WHILE YOU WORK IN THEIR FACTORIES. YOUR POVERTY IS THIER PROFIT. YOU WILL PAY THEM FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. THEY LAUGH AT YOUR POWERLESSNESS. YOUR ILLNESS IS THEIR INCOME. THEY OWN EVERYTHING YOU THINK IS YOURS. THEIR WEALTH IS BUILT ON YOUR MISERY. THEY WILL BEAT YOU IF YOU SPEAK AGAINST THEM.”

Szyhalski is a Polish, Minneapolis-based multimedia artist who was a guest at MSU’s 2023 NOTSTOCK art event. Before the demonstration, Szyhalski gave a presentation to MSU students discussing his prior works and his process for the exhibition on display on campus, “COVID-19: THE LABOR CAMP REPORT.”

The exhibition is comprised of 225 posters Szyhalski created during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking frequently used phrases used in news coverage he referred to as “news shrapnel” as inspiration for his daily drawings. He used the German phrase “zeitzeuge,” which translates to “time witness” to explain society’s shared experience of the pandemic that reflects in his work.

Community members view works from Piotr Szyhalski’s exhibition, “COVID-19: LABOR CAMP REPORT” at the Northwest Arts Center on the Minot State University campus.

“I personally do not consider this work political art, but rather art about political landscape. It concerns itself with politics the same way a landscape artist consults itself with nature or a portrait painter with a human face,” Szyhalski said.

Krys Huesers, a sophomore graphic design student at MSU, felt refreshed after Szyhalski’s presentation.

“It’s a fresh breath of air because everyone has such violent political views over here. Like, North Dakota, especially Minot, because it’s kind of like a Podunk town. [Szyhalski] doesn’t have the fear to let his opinions be known. He doesn’t fear the violent lash back, which is kind of what we need because a lot of people will kind of like, fear getting shot for voicing an opinion,” said Huesers.

The general public had mixed reactions to the demonstration. Protesters were met with car horns honking, shouts of praise and cars pulling over to video the impressive banner. There was also an individual shouting profanities from his balcony, seemingly upset with the display.

Szyhalski said he hoped to show MSU students the importance of their artwork.

“That it does matter. That people are paying attention. It is crucial. There’s not a chance for us to have a healthy society if we don’t have a healthy, thriving culture. So, I think artists’ work is essential, always,” he said.

“[NOTSTOCK] is an incredible event. This is a very special event, special situation. So I feel really, really honored and privileged really to be able to share all these projects to connect with the community in a way where it feels like we’re building some quality together. It’s fantastic,” Szyhalski said.

NOTSTOCK, MSU’s signature arts event, was held Sept. 21-23.