Greetings From Jerusalem Avenue

In 2004, a political conflict threatened the project's future. Even though an official letter was sent to Lech Kaczyński, the mayor of Warsaw, later the President of Poland, with the proposal to donate the palm to the city, no talks were ever held on the subject. No reply ever came. Nor did any reply come to the proposal to disassemble the project. The palm became an illegal object. Due to the lack of funds for its upkeep, the already worn-out leaves had to be removed. The scaffolding and a large banner saying 'The palm is waiting for a contract' survived only one day. The municipal road authority disassembled everything hurriedly as soon as it got dark. The institution's employees behaved arrogantly, threatening that the artist would have to pay for their after-hours work. For six months, a bare stump stood in the centre of Plac de Gaulle'a.

On the palm's second birthday, 12th December 2004, on the initiative of two people, Katarzyna Szustow, later to become the legendary artistic manager of the Le Madame club, and Łukasz Chotkowski, an unusual event took place on Plac de Gaulle'a. Despite cold weather, a group of supporters as well as representatives of the Green Party, in bathing suits and sunglasses, collected money to save the palm. A letter to mayor Kaczyński was read out. It said:

Dear Mr Mayor,

we wish to express our support for Joanna Rajkowska's project Greetings From Aleje Jerozolimskie.

For us, Varsovians, the palm at Plac de Gaulle'a has already become a permanent part of Warsaw's urban landscape. It is an emblem as easily recognisable as the Palace of Culture and Science or the Rotunda. Even though the beginnings of its acclimation weren't easy, it managed to accustom the inhabitants of Warsaw to the charming irrationality of its existence. It teaches us what contemporary art can be - a play, a bit of fun. The palm introduces a ray of joy, positive feelings, to the often dark and grim reality of the capital city. We believe that, thanks to such projects, Warsaw becomes a friendlier place for its inhabitants. The palm also serves as a landmark. For foreign tourists, taking a photo at Plac de Gaulle'a with the palm in the background is now a must. We, Varsovians, believe that the palm pleases the eye, brings back the smile to tired faces, humorously plays with the absurd. We know it is a bit obstreperous and has recently lost its leaves, but that doesn't prevent us from voicing our support for it.

We, the undersigned, ask you to offer financial support for the renovation of Joanna Rajkowska's Greetings From Aleje Jerozolimskie.