By snoadmin
This weekend, the University Art Museum presents “Peace Press Graphics: Art in Pursuit of Social Change,” a collection of posters created by numerous artists during Peace Press’ 20-year tenure.
The posters gave progressive groups the voice they needed when the rest of the world was trying to shush them.
Co-curated by IIee Kaplan, UAM associate director, and Carol A. Wells, executive director, “Peace Press Graphics” brings a collection 130 posters that emanate socio-political awareness and artistry.
“[The “Peace Press Graphics” Exhibit] should make people realize how powerful the arts are,” said Carol A. Wells, who is also the founder of The Center for the Study of Political Graphics (CSPG). “A good political poster would make you ask a question about things you don’t always have the answers to.”
In the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, before the electronic era of text messages and emails, socio-political groups had to find another way to present the public with their ideas and events.
“Peace Press Graphics” was an independent printing and publishing collective in Los Angeles that pushed forth to enable the calls to action from activists such as Cesar Chavez, Angela Davis, David Harrison, Reverend Troy Perry and Joan Baez, as they tried to confront issues and injustices their people faced.
It was born out of the necessity to find an outlet for progressive politics in Southern California during the explosion of protests, movements and demonstrations.
“Peace Press” features various posters from the CSPG collection of political graphics, documenting everything from rock and roll benefits, antiwar sentiments and requests for support of political prisoners.
This exhibit reels more than just the politically-inclined or the art fanatics. With topics ranging from Semitism, Labor Farm Work, ecology and a lot more, it presents a broader breath on issues of the era.
“We’re excited about the possibilities because it touches many different issues,” Kaplan said. “[It covers] concert posters, education programs, social change, African American issues and the American Indian Movement.”
Posters featured in this exhibition come from a number of people including artists and designers like Mark Vallen, Sue Maberry, John August Swanson, Bob Zaugh and Bonnie Mettler.
When political neutrality was a rarity, the artists created posters for progressive groups such as the Resistance, Students for a Democratic Society, The Alliance for Survival, The Farm Workers Union and Act Up.
“We have personal commitments that we hope make the world a little better than we found it,” Wells said. “The exhibit shows a group of people who were dedicated to just that.”
The grand opening of “Peace Press Graphics” will also host a performance by Get Lit Players, a group of high school and college students that use poetry and spoken word to express their point-of-view on political, social and economic issues.
“Not only will people see the politics and the artistry,” Kaplan said, “But we are trying to provide resources so they can further understand where it was coming from as well.”
Aside from a live performance of contemporary poetry and spoken word, “Peace Press Graphics” will include music from the era, a time line of the events and video excerpts of people who were a part of the Peace Press collective at the time. A catalog of featured art will also be for sale.
The opening reception for the “Peace Press Graphics” exhibition will take place on Saturday from 5 – 8 p.m. The gallery will be on display until Dec. 11.
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