Using Arts to Choose Democracy & Create Change: A Virtual Workshop



WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
6:00-7:30 PM (PACIFIC)

 
This hour and a half workshop will combine reflection on the role of arts in creating change with a hands-on online art-build. Let's create something beautiful together!
 
Part 1: HOW ART CREATES CHANGE: Nancy and David will share examples and ideas of how visual arts help to change the narrative and play a crucial part in campaigns to create positive change. We will also focus on democracy-protecting work underway right now, such as Choose Democracy, and will encourage people to form action teams to help prevent a stolen election. We'll offer ideas about how such teams can help their communities prepare through street postering, chalking, and street murals.

Part 2: MAKE A SIGN: The second part we will ask people to come prepared with paper and art supplies and make a sign around the Choose Democracy themes. We will offer practical tips about elements of a visually strong and compelling sign, ask folks to see how far they can get in 30-45 minutes, and then share their in-process work. The signs can be used as window posters, in your yard or fence, to carry in demonstrations and actions, or to wheatpaste in public places. We will also ask each participant to take a photo of themselves holding their finished sign and display them online to inspire others. During our art build we hope to have musicians and song leaders share some songs to inspire and support us as we create our art.

 

GET READY for the workshop: Please get your sign making supplies together before we meet up, set up your work space and computer. See below for some possible sign materials.

VIRTUAL SIGN ART BUILD SUPPLIES & TIPS

SIZE: an 11x7 vertical sign is a good size and can be easy to get paper for--including simply taping two 8 1/2x11 sheets together. Using a manila file folder is also great--and a little thicker. Other sizes are fine as well.

Sign material: You could use paper, cardboard, back of posters or other sheet material, a piece of plywood, fabric…

To make your image and words you could use:

  • Pencils, pens, markers--even with smaller markers, pens or pencils with a little time and filling in, you can make a strong sign. 

  • Pastels, chalk, crayons, charcoal..

  • Paint: house paint (avoid solvent-based--not good to breathe indoors, or go outside), acrylic paint, water colors, tempera, etc.

  • Collage: colored paper, magazines or newspapers, any paper with color on it. And glue and scissors to cut it out and glue it down.

  • Recycled: You could try to make your image using completely recycled materials. 

  • Fabric: you could do painting, embroidery, quilting, or applique (cutting out fabric images or words and sewing, gluing or ironing onto fabric sign). 


THE FACILITATORS

Nancy Pili Hernandez is a San Francisco artist, educator, activist and a member of Trust Your Struggle (TYS)---an artist collective of visual artists, educators, and cultural workers dedicated to social justice, environmental sustainability, and community activism through the medium of art. TYS is a crew, fam, and folks that are getting down for the people through graphic design, printmaking, photography, illustration, graffiti, multimedia installations, mural painting and more.

David Solnit is an East Bay artist and arts organizer, centering the arts to build movements, nurture mass participation and to help change the narratives. He has co-led the Climate Justice Mural Project facilitating large scale, multi-block street mural actions together with Idle No More SF Bay and the Society of Fearless Grandmothers in 2018 (Rise for Climate) and 2019 (Climate Strike). He is currently using arts to support the Poor People's Campaign, and Keep Families Housed anti-eviction campaign. 

 


HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

All events at the East Point Peace Academy are offered on a Gift Economy. This means that there is no fee to register, and everybody is welcome to attend regardless of their ability to pay. An opportunity will be offered to participants to give gifts to support the work of our organization and to support the facilitators. No amount is too small or too large.

To donate for this event, you can visit: https://www.eastpointpeace.org/preparingtogetherdonate


WHERE

This event will happen virtually using the Zoom online conferencing platform. If you are not familiar with this platform, click here for instructions.

 

WHEN
October 14, 2020 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
WHERE
Zoom
CONTACT
East Point Peace Academy · · 510 500 7853

Register Here

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