Information:

Many of Harth’s projects are time related. One of his current projects is The Holy Bible Project — an important 60-year-long art work which begun April 25, 1997 which explores the intersection of art, religion and celebrity culture. The art work will be complete on April 25, 2057.

The project consists of three volumes. Volume 1 began the project from 1997-2017. Harth continued the project in 2017 with Volume 2. Volume 3 will begin in 2037. During each 20-year period, Harth has one Bible that he asks people to sign, and if there is a certain passage they would like to sign, they sign it there, or sign it wherever they would like. [note: Harth is not a religious person]

Harth is not asking for an “autograph.” He is asking for people to participate in the art work. Harth asks such people as musicians, artists, actors, writers, politicians, activists, intellectuals, poets, athletes, pioneers, entrepreneurs, scholars, designers, directors, filmmakers, icons, etc. There are currently over 2,000 participants in The Holy Bible Project.

After six decades of the project, Harth will have three Volumes – three Bibles. Each encapsulating a short period of time in human history. He will never sell this art work to an autograph collector, but in the future it will be on exhibition in an art gallery and/or art museum.

For a complete list of people who participated in the project, please visit the project's website: TheHolyBibleProject.com

A few people that have signed Harth’s Bible:

Bono, Muhammad Ali, David Bowie, Bill Clinton, Madonna, Oprah Winfrey, Matthew Barney, Susan Sarandon, Gloria Steinem, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kanye West, George Clooney, Robert Redford, Pelé, Dr. Jane Goodall, Robert De Niro, Paul Newman, Meryl Streep, Bjork, Jasper Johns, Paul McCartney, Cate Blanchett, Mick Jagger, Stephen King, Lady Gaga, Dr. Dre, Bruce Springsteen, Walter Cronkite, Steven Spielberg, Laurie Anderson, Grace Jones, Calvin Klein, Diane von Furstenberg, Ava DuVernay, Congressman John Lewis, Donald J. Trump, Francis Ford Coppola, Debbie Harry, Kirk Douglas, Damien Hirst, Roxane Gay, Billie Jean King, Roger Waters, David Letterman, Jack Nicholson, James Taylor, Mister Fred Rogers, Richard Branson, Joey Ramone, Cindy Sherman, Julian Assange, Leonardo DiCaprio, Angela Davis, Tom Hanks, Richard Avedon, etc. Check out the full list of participants on the project’s website: TheHolyBibleProject.com

The Story:

In spring 2003 I wrote a letter to the writer, Norman Mailer requesting his participation in The Holy Bible Project. His assistant phoned me back telling me it was unlikely but maybe it would happen by serendipity. She told me logistically it was complicated because Mr. Mailer didn't actually live in NYC. She told me to reach out to her when Mr. Mailer does an event in NYC and perhaps we could arrange for his participation. A few months after that I received a letter in the mail from Mr. Norman Mailer. It was signed by him as well. I won't disclose what it said here. That letter will be revealed in 2017 at the completion of the project. But after receiving that letter I sent him a letter back to continue the dialogue. In Autumn 2003, Mr. Mailer's assistant phoned me up and asked if I could stop by Mr. Mailer's Brooklyn residence in two days. I agreed. I went to Norman Mailer's apartment in Brooklyn Heights. He warmly invited me inside and participated in the project on October 29th, 2003.

The 21st person to pass away who had declined signing the Bible was:
Larry Flynt
Publisher of Hustler Magazine, Founder of Larry Flynt Publications
(November 1, 1942 – February 10, 2021)

Back on June 28th, 2004 I had asked Larry Flynt to participate in the project. He said “I’m atheist” and I said “So am I.” and then he said “I think I would definitely go to hell if I did that.”