#artasactivism

[harvardfineartslib]

Contemporary art plays a critical role in addressing pressing issues such as the climate crisis, creating paths to upend traditional ways of thinking about our relationship with nature and non-human life. The artists in the publication entitled “The world to come : art in the age of the Anthropocene” make people see the world in a new way. They “engage, contest, and reveal the makings of challenges including colonialism, capitalism, technology, population growth, inequality, displacement, and issues of law, violence, and social justice.” (Page 5, Kerry Oliver-Smith).

This is one of the publications we would recommend for the world leaders at the United Nation’s Climate Change Conference COP27, which began this week.

Image on the front cover: Gideon Mendel, Adlene Pierre, Savanne Desolée, Gonaïves, Haiti, September 2008, from the series Drowning World, 2008. Chromogenic print. Courtesy of the artist and Axis Gallery, New York and New Jersey.

The world to come : art in the age of the anthropocene Edited by Kerry Oliver-Smith. Gainesville : Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida, [2018] xi, 169 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 31 cm English [2018] HOLLIS number: 99153839528503941

[arthistoriansdiary]

Untitled (Your body is a battleground)

Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Your body is a battleground) (1989). Photographic silkscreen on vinyl, 284.48 x 284.48 cm.

Barbara Kruger's compelling work Untitled (Your body is a battleground) continues to resonate as a powerful statement in the realm of feminist art. This piece, created for the 1989 Women’s March on Washington, delves deeply into the ongoing debate over women’s bodies and reproductive rights, capturing the enduring struggle through a stark visual medium.

Decoding Kruger's Iconic Visual Statement

Kruger's artwork employs a striking black-and-white photograph of a woman's face, split down the middle into positive and negative exposures. This visual split suggests a dichotomy, reflecting the polarized views on women's autonomy over their own bodies. Overlaying this image are the bold, red words: "Your body is a battleground," a phrase that has become a rallying cry in the fight for reproductive rights and gender equality.

The Power of Symbolism in Feminist Art

Kruger is known for her graphic approach, often merging text with mass media images to challenge viewers and provoke thought. In Untitled (Your body is a battleground), the directness of the textual message combined with the confrontational gaze of the woman’s face compels the audience to consider the personal and political implications of the body in societal debates. The use of red, often associated with danger, power, and passion, enhances the urgency of the message.

Historical Context and Enduring Impact

Created during a time of significant political activism concerning women's reproductive rights, this artwork was part of Kruger’s broader critique of power structures and identity politics. It was not just a piece of art but a part of the visual and textual propaganda used during demonstrations, encapsulating the essence of protest art by blending the boundaries between art and activism.

The Continued Relevance of Kruger's Message

Decades after its creation, Untitled (Your body is a battleground) remains relevant, as debates over reproductive rights continue to be contentious in various parts of the world. Kruger’s work is a reminder of the ongoing struggles and the power of art to influence and reflect societal issues.

Engaging the Viewer: Art as Activism

Barbara Kruger’s work is a poignant exploration of identity, autonomy, and resistance. It challenges viewers to reflect on the implications of viewing the body as a site of conflict and control. As we continue to witness debates surrounding body autonomy and reproductive rights, Kruger's work encourages ongoing dialogue and activism.

Reflect and Respond

What other artworks have you encountered that powerfully address social or political issues? How do they compare to Kruger's method of integrating text and image to communicate a message?

[trascapades]

👏🏿✊🏿#ArtIsAWeapon Spotlight on "Artivist' Nikkolas Smith @nikkolas_smith. Thank you for creating so much beautiful, powerful, engaging, inspiring, important art.

🎥 & caption reposted from @nikkolas_smith - The last few years have been wild. 🎨🚀

Here’s a recap of this Artivism journey that I’ve embarked on, and why I do what I do.

Shoutout to my wife and manager @vanecool for being the driving force behind so much of this and for crafting this amazing reel! 🤯🎥🙏🏾

#Artivism ! #TheArtivist #ArtAsActivism #ArtAsTherapy #NikkolasSmith #Art #BlackArtists #BlackGirlArtGeeks

[plantsense]

What Can Plants Teach Us About Value?

You can see where the trauma is, where the gnarled and twisted parts of the trunk form. But the tree is no less of a tree, unless you value it only by the wood you can extract from its dead body.

[naijaboi]

On this Mindful Monday Reminder to keep creating and don't ask for permission to make your work/craft/calling. Posted @withregram • @artiishak I heard “No” so often this year it feels like a nickname. On rejection by @inspiredtowrite & @ericasbreamcast which gave me some perspective and a bit of hope 🌱 #mindfulmonday #beinganartist #artassocialpractice #cultureshift #keepcreating #artasactivism https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuCAD0FnNe/?utm_medium=tumblr

[bigbeautifulblackgirls]

I’m just tired. ⠀ I grew up fighting for my people. Loving, educating and healing through activism. My heart broke when I finally realized the world wouldn’t change before I graduated high school or maybe even in my lifetime. ⠀ So I learned to cope. Focus on my art and my creativity to help ME heal and pray that that healing could touch the world. ⠀ But that doesn’t make living in THIS world any easier. Black people are tied together through a generational thin thread that cuts deep every single time we lose someone to HATE and FEAR. ⠀ I’m just tired. Tired of patching myself up after every murder. George...Ahmaud...Breonna I carry you with me. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #stopkillingus #Icantbreathe #imtired #imangry #blacklivesstillmatter #blacklivedalwaysmatter #justiceforgeorgefloyd #justiceforusall #whatsnext #whatsleft #GeorgeFloyd #AhmaudArbery #BreonnaTaylor #Toomanytoname #blackmeniloveyou #blackwomeniloveyou #artasactivism #creativitytoheal #toexpress #wipeitdownchallenge #heal #istillcantbreathe #enough #reparations #mentalhealth #letstalkaboutit https://www.instagram.com/p/CAv6YUaFFWe/?igshid=1aqra5jm7o4sc

[78jaybyrd]

Posted • @phenyxrose I'm tired too! 🥺 I love my Black men waaaaay too much for this.... Reposted from @naturalhairlovez 🙏🏽📸@simoneleanora I’m just tired. ⠀ I grew up fighting for my people. Loving, educating and healing through activism. My heart broke when I finally realized the world wouldn’t change before I graduated high school or maybe even in my lifetime. ⠀ So I learned to cope. Focus on my art and my creativity to help ME heal and pray that that healing could touch the world. ⠀ But that doesn’t make living in THIS world any easier. Black people are tied together through a generational thin thread that cuts deep every single time we lose someone to HATE and FEAR. ⠀ I’m just tired. Tired of patching myself up after every murder. George...Ahmaud...Breonna I carry you with me. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #stopkillingus #Icantbreathe #imtired #imangry #blacklivesstillmatter #blacklivedalwaysmatter #justiceforgeorgefloyd #justiceforusall #whatsnext #whatsleft #GeorgeFloyd #AhmaudArbery #BreonnaTaylor #Toomanytoname #blackmeniloveyou #blackwomeniloveyou #artasactivism #creativitytoheal #toexpress #wipeitdownchallenge #heal #istillcantbreathe #enough #reparations #mentalhealth #letstalkaboutit https://www.instagram.com/p/CA23a_JngCm/?igshid=7uedsbja9ix4

[supportblackart]

“An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times. I think that is true of painters, sculptors, poets, musicians. As far as I’m concerned, it’s their choice, but I CHOOSE to reflect the times and situations in which I find myself. That, to me, is my duty. And at this crucial time in our lives, when everything is so desperate, when everyday is a matter of survival, I don’t think you can help but be involved. Young people, black and white, know this. That’s why they’re so involved in politics. We will shape and mold this country or it will not be molded and shaped at all anymore. So I don’t think you have a choice. How can you be an artist and NOT reflect the times? That to me is the definition of an artist.” -Nina Simone #SupportBlackArt #NinaSimone #AnArtistsDuty #ReflectTheTimes #ArtAsResistance #ArtasActivism https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDrpV0hOSe/?igshid=n5wvh3lcwpzc

[myspectral]

Prunus padus is the bird cherry or mayday tree, technically a plum. Yields wonderful purple tones. I prepared the infusion in alcohol. It provides quick drying effect as found in sketch markers for fashion. Sustainable, edible, wonderful pastel color. Yes, prunus padus fruit might be toxic for some mammals, but some tribes know how to prepare a dried snack. Sustainable, ecological color made by #ethnobotanist for the Gretas and Charlies of the post covid world. Because all life is sacred, and people should weaponise themselves with art, science and knowledge. Colors are the ammo, paintings are the guns. I am the ammo gunsmith. . . . #postcovid #artscience #ethnobotanist #biology #plants #artasactivism #artas #color #diy #dye #dyer #te #ammo #gunsmith #cal308 #bmg50 #sniper #palette #marker #copic #kingof2miles #50cal #50caliber #416 #416cal #prepper #waterislife #colorislife #armyourkids (at מוזיאון תל אביב לאמנות - Tel Aviv Museum of Art) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCrG7Y4nDRS/?igshid=wv44z4vo08wg

[eliz2520]

#Repost @blackownednews • • • • • • ❤️✊🏾😩 @BlackLovePage This shook us to the core 😓 I’m just tired. I grew up fighting for my people. Loving, educating and healing through activism. My heart broke when I finally realized the world wouldn’t change before I graduated high school or maybe even in my lifetime. ⠀ So I learned to cope. Focus on my art and my creativity to help ME heal and pray that that healing could touch the world. ⠀ But that doesn’t make living in THIS world any easier. Black people are tied together through a generational thin thread that cuts deep every single time we lose someone to HATE and FEAR. ⠀ I’m just tired. Tired of patching myself up after every murder. George...Ahmaud...Breonna I carry you with me. Post Via @simoneleanora ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #stopkillingus #Icantbreathe #imtired #imangry #blacklivesstillmatter #blacklivedalwaysmatter #justiceforgeorgefloyd #justiceforusall #whatsnext #whatsleft #GeorgeFloyd #AhmaudArbery #BreonnaTaylor #Toomanytoname #blackmeniloveyou #blackwomeniloveyou #artasactivism #creativitytoheal #toexpress #wipeitdownchallenge #heal #istillcantbreathe #enough #reparations #mentalhealth #letstalkaboutit https://www.instagram.com/p/CAviKucjYzGYoTRdERq4_MiBPHuQvRsIOTafVE0/?igshid=1aj4ioo7lho8k

[jesree]

”The American Dream Isn’t Cruel.” “The American Dream Doesn’t Mock.” Los Angeles, November 2018 @orpheumtheatrela • • • #artasactivism #dtla #losangeles_la #california_igers #huffpostgram #pocket_bnw #shootermag #freedomofspeech #bnw_planet #streetphoto_bnw #jj_blackwhite #rsa_bnw #bws_worldwide #ig_shotz_bw #big_shotz_bw #stunningbnw #election2018 (at Downtown Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpzrCchnwPG/?igshid=1l408alnh60su

[arthistoriansdiary]

Fringe

Rebecca Belmore, Fringe (2007). Photography printed on canvas. Global Contemporary Art.

Rebecca Belmore's Fringe is a deeply moving and thought-provoking piece that addresses themes of trauma, healing, and history, particularly in the context of indigenous peoples and women. This analysis delves into the various elements that make Fringe a significant work in contemporary art.

Artistic Concept: Fringe is a striking piece, depicting a life-sized photograph of a reclining Indigenous woman, her back turned to the viewer. A striking feature of the work is a large wound on her back, from which red threads resembling blood, or perhaps fringe, flow down. This wound and its vivid depiction are central to understanding the piece's emotional and historical depth.

Symbolism and Representation: The wound in Fringe is symbolic of the historical and ongoing trauma experienced by Indigenous communities, particularly the women. It speaks to the violence inflicted upon these communities and the scars – both physical and emotional – that they bear. The flowing threads can be interpreted as a symbol of bleeding, representing ongoing pain, or as fringe, suggesting a cultural connection and resilience.

Medium and Technique: Belmore's choice of medium – photography printed on canvas, with the addition of the three-dimensional element of the threads – bridges traditional and contemporary art forms. The use of these materials emphasizes the raw and tactile nature of the subject matter, making it both visually striking and emotionally resonant.

Contextual Importance: Fringe is not just a piece of art; it is a statement about the resilience and suffering of Indigenous peoples. In the context of Belmore's broader work, which often tackles issues of social and political importance, Fringe stands out as a particularly poignant commentary on the intersection of gender, history, and colonialism.

Reflecting on Trauma and Resilience: How does Fringe by Rebecca Belmore resonate with your understanding of art as a medium for addressing historical and cultural trauma? What emotions or thoughts does this piece evoke in you about the experiences of Indigenous peoples?

[plantsense]

What Can Plants Teach Us About Hyperindividualism?

As a tree breathes, the leaves release bacteria into the air and up to the clouds. Humidity in the air condenses around these “Cloud Condensation Nuclei”, creating raindrops. The rain then falls back to earth upwind. In other words, the trees literally call the rain. This supports the larger ecosystem.

While turning on the AC immediately brings the temperature down in a room, the ultrafine pollution from generating “clean” energy destabilizes the rain cycles, resulting in humidity, heat waves, droughts and floods. In other words, the electricity generated to power the AC for one person’s comfort can worsen a heat wave for the rest of the community.

Further Reading

https://understandingag.com/regenerative-rainmaking/ https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/11/12917/2011/ https://www.sott.net/article/318260-Harnessing-the-ice-making-powers-of-bacteria-scientists-crack-mechanism

[naijaboi]

Posted @withregram • @fwdtogether We give you the permission to choose how you wish to show up in the world. And we understand that that may shift with each and every day or even every hour. It is your right to imagine the fullest possibilities of your gender without constraints. And we’re here to help facilitate that. FEATURED ART: New Orleans–based artist _creatureoftheworld worked with @breakout t to spotlight the importance of trans-supported community in this piece titled "Trans AF, Queer AF, & Here AF". This is what @ had to say about their art: "We are our biggest supporters. Our connections to each other can begin before the March and be maintained far after. As Queer and Transgender People, it is truly our duty to find it in our hearts to aid in our overall resilience. There are so many ways to love one another in between visits to the frontlines." Download the art and share it in your community. https://tdor.co/art/trans-af-queer-af-here-af/ #TDOR2021 Image Description: Illustration with banners of text saying: “Trans AF, Queer AF & Here AF” and “somos trans. somos cuir. estamos aquí.” Two Black trans and non-binary people sit on the front steps. One of them has long purple braids and is wearing a shirt with the names “Ciara, Diamond, Chyna & Penny”, and a tattoo on her arm says “Blooming”. Her friend is braiding her hair. In the foreground is a Black transmasculine person with a tattoo saying “Breathe”. In the background is a yellow house with a large crystal geode, a banana tree and a pot of roses. #transisbeautiful #transdayofresilience #art #artasactivism #culturechange #qtipoc #genderdynamic #gender-non-conforming #Queer #lgbtia https://www.instagram.com/p/CWhSAE5MtuJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[latinachikaspeaksmagazine]

♡ Diane Gamboa (born 1957) has been producing, exhibiting and curating visual art in Southern California since the 1980s. She has also been involved art education, ranging from after-school programs to college and university teaching. Gamboa has been "one of the most active cultural producers in the Chicana art movement in Los Angeles." She actively developed the Chican@ School of Painting. ♡ #ART #arte #dianegamboa #losangeles #punk #punksceneart #punkscene #losangeleshistory #latina #latinas #socialjusticeinart #artasactivism #socialjustice #fenalepainter #femaleartist #mexicana #mexico #historical historicalart #blog #blogger https://www.instagram.com/p/BxqcEK0p3HJ/?igshid=1toi9ttougm1j

[ahc-oakland]

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As we prepare for our upcoming exhibition we look to ArtEsteem students to share their stories. Rodney Marshall is enrolled in our West Oakland Leadership and Legacy (WOLLP) project. In this one minute video, he shares his thoughts on the upcoming ArtEsteem Exhibition, how the students are exceeding expectations, and why you should attend!