MEDIA ADVISORY – Event Thursday, 06/03/2010, 5 PM – 7 PM
Contact: Lacy MacAuley (202) 445-4692, lacy@massey-media.com
Sarah Massey, (202) 445-1169, sarah@massey-media.com
“Art in Crisis” explores fusion of art and activism
Unique show opens this Thursday at Busboys & Poets
Who: Decoy, rvltn, Favianna Rodriguez, Owel, Whys, Strike, Civil51
What: Unique activist art opening
When: Thursday, June 3, 5 PM – 7 PM, “Art in Crisis” opening
Sunday, June 6, 5 PM – 7 PM, “From Crisis to Justice: A Forum on Art and Activism”
Where: Busboys & Poets, 5th & K St NW, Washington DWashington DC – Every revolution has its art. In DC, the local artists who create the signs, banners, graffiti, and other radical art will be showcased at a unique art show organized by the Rivera Project, an organization working to bridge the gaps between art and activism.
If you’ve been to a protest in DC, you’ve likely seen the edgy images of Cesar Maxit of rvltn Design. If you’ve sauntered down U Street lately, you’ve walked past the edgy graffiti of Decoy, whose art supports DC statehood and gay rights. These are the type of artists whose work will appear at the show, opening this week at Busboys & Poets on 5th & K St NW with light snacks offered. All of the artists will be present at the opening, except for Cesar Maxit and Favianna Rodriquez, who are in Arizona to voice opposition to the state’s new unjust immigration law.
“Revolutionary art is central to social transformation,” said David Thurston, Founder of the Rivera Project. “This show will bring the energy and politics of street art into a critical social justice venue. The Rivera project is a new non-profit dedicated to the fusion of art and social justice.”
“Over the past several years I’ve come to feel that collaborating with artists keeps me alive,” said Thurston, who has planned dozens of immigrant rights rallies and has been a card-carrying social justice activist for years. “Integrating art into protest often communicates messages that words themselves can’t.”
A forum on Sunday, June 6, 5 PM – 7 PM, entitled “From Crisis to Justice: A Forum on Art and Activism,” will feature a conversation with two of the artists in the show, Favianna Rodriguez and Cesar Maxit. The forum will be hosted by Dave Zirin. It is free of charge and donations are welcome.
A portion of the proceeds from art sales will benefit the Washington Peace Center, the National Day Labor Organizing Network, the Wayside Center for Popular Education, Center for Economic Research and Social Change, and CASA de Maryland.
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The Rivera Project helps fuse art and activism. It is an innovative organization with two priorities: Providing institutional support for socially-conscious artists; and providing resources to social justice organizations interested in integrating art into actions and campaigns.
For more info on the Rivera Project, contact David Thurston, (646) 382-4181, david.thurston78@gmail.com.
