Dedicated to clever and innovative trends of art and design in activism.

Love the idea behind (PRODUCT) RED, but hate the consumerism that drives it? Maybe it’s the environmental impact that drives you crazy, you can’t afford the luxury, or one ounce of social responsibility simply can’t bring you to shop at the Gap. (RE) shares these objections with you, and has begun a campaign to respond directly to (PRODUCT) RED by offering alternative strategies for participation in raising both funds and awareness for a cause.

(RE) capitalizes on the brand-awareness built by (PRODUCT) RED and makes subtle changes to their designs, challenging the corporate identity and appropriating their momentum. With their INSPI(RE)D campaign, for example, they move the parenthesis to the left by just one character - instead of INSPI(RED) - and silkscreen the design on reused thriftshop shirts. The re-branding places emphasis on re-use in order to encourage conscious consumption.

For their efforts, (RE) has been issued a cease and desist letter from the (PRODUCT) RED trademark holders, a company called The Persuaders, LLC.

Discuss (4)

This weekend I’ll be making prints for our friends at WonderRoot.  While I was going through some old files for that project, I came across this image that I did while I was learning Photoshop.  It’s a remake of an old WWII poster.  Enjoy!

Discuss (0)

Take Action! 83 Ways to Change the World is about individuals who occupy land, refuse to follow orders blindly, create armies of clowns, crochet their own Gucci handbags or start up their own banks. They offer resistance and ask questions, sometimes even at a risk to their own lives.

Above: Samir Alj Fält - Wall Storage

Take Action documents the political underground, including direct actions dear to our hearts like craftivism and guerrilla gardening.  Every piece in the exhibit deals with confrontations with power relations or the creative re-making or co-opting of established structures and systems.

Discuss (2)

Tactical deployments of art in activism are slowly becoming a focus here at Groundswell. Beyond the social commentary and the protestations, and well beyond “ethical” consumerism, efforts like Where We Are Now are truly activist - meeting to discuss, question, plot, and plan interventions, to focus on the important, strategic issues like pedagogy, communications, and action, and (perhaps most importantly) to network and collaborate.

A call was circulated in October of 2007 for a meeting amongst art, academic and activist institutions and individuals to discuss the merits of a coordinated strategy that would raise awareness around the multitude of art political discussions and projects in town while having a real impact on the politics of New York City, and beyond.

One month later more than 60 representatives from a range of institutions convened, and the Where We Are Now network was born. Our goal is to demonstrate how powerful critical voices still exist, ones that cry out for global justice, agency and participation. Using the pivotal moment of the 2008 presidential election, we share a sense that the times have changed and are ours to claim. Through activities as diverse as art exhibitions, days of decentralized action, street performances and pedagogical conferences, we seek to gauge the status of the political in contemporary art, and consider how we may act as resources to one another and to other communities within and beyond New York City.

I am extremely interested in putting together a similar effort in Boston. Please contact us if you are, too.

Discuss (0)

Charges against Steve Kurtz of Critical Art Ensemble (see our interview with CAE here) have been dropped!

Lucia Sommer, Coordinator of the CAE Defense Fund, which raises funds for Kurtz’ legal defense, said, “We are all grateful that after reviewing this case, Judge Arcara took appropriate action.” She added that “this decision is further testament to our original statements that Dr. Kurtz is completely innocent and never should have been charged in the first place.”

While this news is exciting, the prosecution still has the right to appeal this dismissal. If this is how the prosecution chooses to proceed, the case would move to the New York Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City.

Congratulations, Steve!

Discuss (2)