Ava Sandersen

In 2022 I joined in helping The Art Build Workers when they teamed up with the orginization Voces de la Frontera, an immigrants rights organization to make banners and screen prints. The Art Build workers work to help unions, orginizations and movements amplify their messages through visual art, media, and archiving.

Art, a timeless conduit of expression, holds immense power to shape perceptions and provoke change. As I embark on this journey of exploration into art activism, my curiosity is particularly piqued by its impact on individuals and communities. I am eager to delve deeper into understanding how art activism resonates with people on a personal level and how it fosters meaningful connections and dialogue. My goal is not only to expand my knowledge but also to approach this exploration with sensitivity and empathy, recognizing the diverse experiences and perspectives that shape people’s responses to art activism.

I am keenly aware of the importance of approaching the study of art activism with sensitivity and respect. Art has the ability to evoke strong emotions and elicit deeply personal responses, especially when addressing sensitive or contentious issues. As such, I am committed to navigating this exploration with care, seeking to understand the nuances of how art activism impacts individuals while being mindful of their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

In my quest to learn more about the impacts of art activism, I intend to engage in thoughtful dialogue with artists, activists, and community members who have firsthand experience with this form of expression. By listening to their stories, insights, and perspectives, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which art activism can inspire, empower, and unite people. Moreover, I aim to explore methodologies and approaches that facilitate discussions around art activism in a respectful and inclusive manner, creating spaces where individuals feel safe to share their thoughts and feelings.

Ultimately, my aspiration is to use the knowledge and insights gained through this exploration to inform my practice as an educator. By understanding the impacts of art activism on people and communities, I hope to create meaningful learning experiences that empower students to engage critically with social issues and express themselves creatively. Through sensitive and empathetic exploration, I believe we can harness the transformative potential of art activism to foster positive change and inspire a more equitable and just society.

A Mural organized by Chris Burke of George Floyd and Dontre Hamilton in 2020. To learn more about Chris Burke and some of his murals in Milwaukee, click here!

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Citations

“About Us.” Art Build Workers, 22 Jan. 2022, https://artbuildworkers.com/about-us/.

“Activist Art.” Tate, Tate, http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/activist-art#:~:text=The%20aim%20of%20activist%20artists,them%20or%20simply%20describing%20them. Accessed 7 Feb. 2024. 

Duncombe, Stephen, and Steve Lambert. “Why Artistic Activism?” Why Artistic Activism: 9 Reasons, The Center for Artistic Activism, 17 Nov. 2021, https://c4aa.org/2018/04/why-artistic-activism.