This week, social practice artist Ray Ray Mitrano, M.F.A, was one of the Rochester 10, the CITY Newspapers’ feature on ten happening Rochestarians. BELOW Congratulations, Ray Ray!
Talker likes to think we “discovered” Ray Ray before he achieved his quasi-celebrity status.

Ray Ray from Vote early and often at a political art experience: Primary Caucus” [Photo: David Kramer] 5/29/16

Me voting with snotty tissues. From Vote early and often at a political art experience: Primary Caucus” [Photo: Ray Ray Mitrano] 5/29/16

Skulking around like a fake Russian election hacker. From A Fake Election at the Visual Studies Workshop [Photo: Ray Ray Mitrano] 11/4/16
Ray Ray was at the Activism Fair in January 2017. SEE Activism Fair draws largest crowd of its kind in recent memory

Ray Ray at right. Nilson Carrol at left. Alex White at the Green Party table in rear. From Activism Fair draws largest crowd of its kind in recent memory [Photo: David Kramer] 1/14/16

Ray Ray to the left from Many voices against hate at the Twelve Corners [Photo: Mara Ahmed] 3/12/17

Donald Trump did not invent “Fake News.” Yar Yar was using the term well before The Donald. (see Rochester 7-Eleven coffee drinkers narrowly favor Clinton 101 – 97; most are independent)

Ray Ray’s sketch. See rayraymitrano.com
We went to several of Ray Ray’s happenings at Parcel 5, including in May when the mimes filled the space and offered lessons. Ray Ray (under his pseudonym Yar Yar) was there interviewing people for his Fake News project. For a couple of years, Yar Yar has pioneered the concept of Fake News in which he critically interrogates media practices.
In October 2016, candidate Donald Trump claimed he invented the term “Fake News.” Trump did not as Yar Yar — who never claims to have coined the term — was using the phrase well before fake Trump.
The “Fake News” Donald Trump Boxing and Talking Pen Speaks

Yar Yar interviewing mimes and spectators at Fake Visionary Square: Miming at Parcel 5 [Photo: David Kramer] 5/7/17

Yar Yar interviewing mimes and spectators at Fake Visionary Square: Miming at Parcel 5 [Photo: David Kramer] 5/7/17
POSTSCRIPT In his always vivid prose, Ray Ray kindly posted this on his facebook page:
David Kramer is an overwhelmingly endearing, crazy, multi-tasking local media powerhouse. Talker of the Town manically integrates meta-timelines of his own personal news explorations. They often end collaboratively written.
This is him adding onto the pile, reacting to CITY Newspaper, and pressing on in bold curiosity that goes deep and hard.
Thanks for engaging my work, David. It’s special to look back on through your lens.
My pleasure, Yar Yar.
SEE
Vote early and often at a political art experience: the “Primary Caucus”
Ray Ray rejoins our conversation: “the privilege of mind with US as your safety-net”