ARTIST SPELLS OUT LIBERTY WITH STATES

All Mike Wilkins is asking for is a little artistic license.

But Georgia says rules are rules: no registered car, no plate.

So far 49 states and the District of Columbia have assisted the San Francisco artist in his project to spell out phonetically the 52-word preamble to the U.S. Constitution in its bicentennial year with a license plate from each state and the district.

“I’ve written to former President Carter for help,” said Wilkins. “I figure if anyone can help in Georgia, Carter can.” A Carter spokeswoman said the office had received Wilkins’ letter but didn’t know if the former Georgia governor could help the artist secure his vanity plate.

“People use personalized plates as an artistic expression, a medium for every man,” said Wilkins.

“The symbolism here is that every plate has an individual voice--a discreet part--and when you put those voices together you get a united message.”

As of this week, Wilkins has received 39 plates and letters of intent from 11 states. Alabama has sent him WE TH; Alaska has promised P PUL. California granted him his third choice, DIDD, because his first two requests for the last part of united were taken. Connecticut does not allow spaces, so he settled for INNOR as part of in order .

Minnesota granted him UN DE, for the last half of common and the first part of defense , but “the lady in Minneapolis warned me that someone could take that wrong--as undie, “ Wilkins said. “And New Mexico didn’t look too promising there for a while. They had a prison breakout or lock-down or something and didn’t think they could get it made in time, but that plate came in the mail the other day.”

The price tag on the project should be less than $1,000, he said. “That’s about $350 in phone bills, another $200 in express mail and a couple hundred dollars in plate costs. We had to pay for 11, including $36 for California’s; the rest gave them to us for free.”

Wilkins said he would like to donate the finished work to the Smithsonian Institution. “I’ve been told that it might be something they’d be interested in, but they don’t endorse projects until they have been completed.”

While Wilkins, 27, gathers the plates, partner Perry Vasquez, 28, of Escondido is at work on a 7 1/2-foot-square plywood base and frame for the metal montage. The duo hope to have the preamble done by Sept. 17, when the nation’s celebration of the 200-year anniversary of the signing of the Constitution officially begins.

Wilkins’ project has not been recognized by the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. Kemp Harshman, associate general counsel of the commission, said Wilkins is not eligible for such recognition as an individual “because the commission is afraid of its logo being used for individual profit.”

Susan Cardinale, project recognition coordinator, said the commission has accorded “official status” to 318 regional or national projects pertaining to the Constitution celebration. Private companies using the logo must pay a fee or royalty to the commission; nonprofit groups may use the logo without charge but only with the commission’s approval.

Wilkins could receive a Letter of Encouragement from the commission, Harshman said, “if he sends in a written request. We have issued several of those to individuals with worthwhile projects--and from what I hear of his, I certainly think it would qualify.”

But, Wilkins said, Georgia officials told him that even a letter from the commission wouldn’t guarantee a FECT U plate (for parts of perfect union ) from that state . “I’ve also written to some other Georgia officials, and in case it doesn’t work out, I’ve written to Puerto Rico to see if the commonwealth will step in.”