I define my community as my family, my friends, and my neighborhood. Three examples of activism in my community have been canvassing and creating public events where the citizens of my town were able to discuss issues they wanted to resolve in the town. We emphasized the importance in becoming registered voters, and we’re able to connect people with the right assistance and programs. I have seen fundraising art and music shows that supported art therapy programs for a Guttenberg school, and the Cosecha NJ organization. Other forms of activism I have seen are free food fridges in the community, as well as walks or runs for a cause such as suicide prevention, Alzheimer’s, and various cancers. The latest activism community event. I have seen a community garden “know your rights“ party in Union City on September 28.
the images from Chapter 1 are from wedding photos in Chongqing, China, taken amid the smog of Beijing. The couple is believed to create this shoot to bring awareness to the air pollution that had created closed roads and grounded planes. Scientist in China warned that the toxic air is potentiality wreaking havoc on their food supply as it was slowing photosynthesis in plants.
READINGS:
1. WHY ARTISTIC ACTIVISM? | Center for Artistic Activism
“The boundary slippage of artistic activism works equally well in repressive regimes where overt political protest is prohibited, yet artistic practices are tolerated. Slipping under the radar, artistic activism is not identified as “politics” to authorities while still being able to communicate a social message to the public.”
“Through sound and image and movement, artistic activism can conjure up a vision of what could be in the future and communicate it to others in the here and now. Art gives us the vision. Activism helps us make the road to get there.”
The first quote reminded me of the protest in chapter 1, where they were able to wear gas masks and wedding attire to avoid any forceful response from Chinese authorities. Through the artistic activism receiving tolerance, the images, sounds and movements were shared with other citizens and within different parts of the world.
2. An Introduction to Activist Art | The Collector | by Stefanie Graf
“When the public is looking away from suffering that could be prevented or does not want to be confronted with it, activist art often creates a dialogue and forces people to think about these problems.”
“With the help of these horses, they use different crowd control techniques that they learned at the police academy such as making people move in certain directions or separating people into groups.”
The reality of the suffering is something that many do not want to confront but when it is presented to you through art you can’t look away. Initially, I had thought this piece was a sort of red orange water until I looked closer and realized the water was actually lifejackets. The reality of the art installation makes one have to acknowledge the social issue, and hopefully question why the journey must be so dangerous.
I think this was an interesting art activism demonstration as it had the viewers unexpectedly become participants. The performance piece putting its audience in a situation where they are divided and separated by authorities, demonstrates how easily an unaware public can be controlled if even with small movements.
3. The 25 Most Influential Works of American Protest Art Since World War II
The New York Times Style Magazine
“The piece became a source of national controversy when it remained on view above the street after a deadly sniper attack on police officers in Dallas, Texas, sparking a wave of threats to the gallery from people who felt that the work encouraged violence against police.”
“The piece’s simplicity remains its power: Gonzalez-Torres, who, four years later, succumbed to effects of the disease at age 38, forced us to confront not merely the millions taken by the virus, but the incalculable sorrow of those left behind. — N.H.”
I’m shocked but not surprised that the gallery had received threats concerning their banner as I don’t read the words as an encouragement to install violence against police. The amount of officers who wear killed and injured during this attack does not nearly surpass the unnecessary murders and injuries inflicted on citizens by police. I believe this piece deserves to be public as it brings awareness to police brutality.
The series “untitled “ had created a great affect on me with its imagery of two empty slept-in pillows. I felt as though the loss and loneliness in one’s space is universal. I had met a middle aged queer woman who shared that her siblings and friends had passed away from AIDS when she was younger. This epidemic being such an inhumane time for queer people brought a necessary activism such as this work to continue speaking about it. Reading in this quote that the artist joined his partner on the other side, made the set of pillows, even sadder.
No comments:
Post a Comment