making sense of the mood
Project welcomes artwork as a platform for dialogue about the nation’s future
A long-established local arts organization is launching a project today — Inauguration Day for President Donald J. Trump — that it hopes will encourage dialogue about the future of the nation.
Called “Active Voice,” the project invites people to create artwork inspired by the new administration for display at Artists Image Re-source, a North Side print and imaging laboratory.
“We wanted to provide a platform for people where they can react to what’s been happening in our political climate,” said Tresa Varner, managing director of Artists Image Resource. “Our goal is to have an open dialogue about what people are thinking.”
The project is open to anyone, and all media are welcome. The art will not be submitted to a jury, and there is no cost to submit a work.
The first artworks will be accepted today during a free public kickoff party that will include poster-making activities, drinks and light bites from 5 to 7 p.m. at the studio, 518 Foreland St.
Additional artworks will be accepted from 5 to 6 p.m. Feb. 2, Feb. 16 and March 2.
On March 11, an Activist Print Art Fair and closing reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.
“Much has changed over the past months regarding how we understand our collective circumstance and we believe strongly that now is the time for artists and the community to actively voice their concerns about the present and future of this nation,” a prospectus for the exhibition states.
Artists who have committed to
participate so far include Maritza Mosquera, Emily Newman, Alisha Wormsley, Suzanne Watters, John Ritter, Joe Lupo, Michael Hegedus, Robert Beckman and Ms. Varner.
Artists will hang their own work on the studio walls.
“They’ll start on the first floor today and move up the floors as the exhibition continues and more works come in,” Ms. Varner said.
The project has one caveat: Artworks must be appropriate for all audiences.
“This exhibition is open to families and to people of all ages and beliefs,” Ms. Varner said. “We’re asking that people don’t bring anything that would be inappropriate.”
Artists Image Resource is known for its achievements in supporting and pushing boundaries of original artist prints in the region and beyond, but this project welcomes media other than prints.
“We recognize that artists express themselves in different ways,” Ms. Varner said. “It has to fit through the door, but work isn’t limited to just printbased media.”
As part of “Active Voice,” workshops open to the public will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. each Thursday this month, providing access to the studio facilities.
Costs range from $5 to $30, depending on whether participants want to use stencils and silkscreens that are provided or whether they want studio staff to make a silkscreen using the participant’s own image and text.