The Art of Protest

Casas a la Deriva by Isidro Blasco
Curated by Elizabeth Cooper
March 16th - April 29th, 2018
Opening Reception: Friday March 16th, 6-10 pm
FEATURED ARTISTS
Jonathan Allen
John Baber
Isidro Blasco
Lizzie Bonaventura
Nancy Bowen
Nancy Chunn
Amanda Church
Angela Dufresne
Nicky Enright
Mary Frank
Rachel Frank
Jake Kahana
Joyce Kozloff
Eileen Jeng Lynch’s “ Give Voice” Postcard Project
Katherine Newbegin
Lorie Novak
Ken Ragsdale
Maritza Ranero
Carol Saft
Rudy Shepherd
Sandra Mack Valencia
Arete Venue and Gallery is proud to present The Art of Protest, an exhibition that joins NYC artists together in a show of video, drawing, collage, photography, sculpture and protest signs. The Art of Protest investigates the different ways in which artists choose to express their opinions on social issues. It will also feature Eileen Jeng Lynch’s “Give Voice” Postcard Project which presents 40 artist-made postcards that attendees can send to their political representatives, and are also available for sale as a charitable donation to various causes.
EVENTS
Saturday, April 14th, 1pm - 4pm
Give Voice Postcard Project signing event hosted by Eileen Jeng Lynch
Friday, April 20th, 6pm - 9pm
Greenpoint Gallery Night, performance by Rudy Shepherd
Jake Kahana imagines Donald Trump as a classic cartoon villain and John Baber uses his considerable collage skills to skewer political foibles. Sandra Mack Valencia’s powerful portraits explore immigration with beauty and dignity. Jonathan Allen presents “Subway Interventions”, a series of underground poster interventions that reimagines advertisements as a political battleground. Rico Gatson contributes an image of the writer and cultural icon Amiri Baraka. Nicky Enright’s video, “I'm Migration”, presents the immigrant experience boldly while Nancy Bowen is represented by a powerful drawing showing how women’s history is often edited out of American history. Rudy Shepherd's intimate portraits focus on racial bias and the police violence that plagues America. Carol Saft’s short documentary videos explore community building and political action, sharing the screen with many voices while Lorie Novak’s project “Above The Fold” focuses on media coverage during “The First Hundred Days of Trump”.
In Isidro Blasco’s work, global warming causes houses to float away in the East River. Ken Ragsdale investigates clear cutting and environmental damage while Rachel Frank examines environmental changes and animal extinction in her “Rewilding” project.
Carol Saft assembles a collection of the most recent protest signs created and fabricated by the artists of the We Make America Collective, some of whose members include Lizzie Bonaventura, Nancy Chunn, Angela Dufresne, Mary Frank, Joyce Kozloff, Julie Peppito, Linda Schrank, Rachel Selekman, and others.
CONTACT elizabeth@aretevenue.com or gallery@aretevenue.com