Gallery 51 Exhibit Turns Protest and Political Action Into Art
The Statue of Liberty sits chained in Gallery 51 as part of 'The Art of Resistance.'
When Donald Trump was first elected in November 2016, the grassroots organization Greylock Together was formed to promote democratic values, oppose authoritarianism, and support social justice and community action, said Peter Glazer, a member of the organization's leadership team.
The group has since organized several protests, including Northern Berkshire County's No Kings Protest that condemned the administration's actions from issues ranging its immigration policies, abortion rights, and economic inequality to broader social justice issues dominating the national conversation, he said.
"We are the Northern Berkshire representation of Indivisible, which is a nationwide group that is around to combat the rise of authoritarianism," said Denise Fortier, a member of Greylock Together's leadership team.
"I think when you look through the gallery, you'll see that we're working very hard at that. So, are all of you, all of the artists in this room, all of the artists that come to our rallies, all of the people in our community matter."
"The Art of Resistance" features about 150 pieces, including rally signs contributed by roughly 40 protesters and works by about 25 local artists, ranging from papier-mâché sculptures to paintings to a digital video projected onto the gallery wall.
The exhibition is on view through Dec. 11; the gallery on Main Street is open Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Alongside the exhibition, there will be events including a zine workshop, an open mic protest and a screening of a yet-to-be-fully-released film about Peter Schumann and his Bread and Puppet Theater.
"We have built a community of people who have put this show together. So, the artists are coming in, seeing other people's work, and really feeling a sense of common purpose as a result of that," Glazer said.
With so many issues unfolding at once, it can be easy to become overwhelmed, but the exhibition aims to break that broader sense of uncertainty into individual issues that resonate with people, he said.
"It's like there's a fire hose of mayhem coming out of the administration — so many different things are being challenged and unsettled," he said, pointing to concerns over arrests, changing laws and actions he believes threaten human rights and social justice.
"And when you come into the gallery, you are actually able to see all of those different elements that are part of that fire hose. So you get to really understand the distinctive challenges that this administration has put onto us, instead of it just being one big challenge," he said.
Then there are visitors from out of town who see the work, get a sense of what the community has done and become inspired to replicate similar efforts back home, he said.
"If anyone is sad, lonely, has an idea, wants to try something, come and see us. ... Find your people. We don't have to be alone. The world is going to get better," Fortier said.
Through rally signs, protest posters and pieces by local artists, the exhibition traces the issues that have fueled recent demonstrations and the emotions surrounding them, Glazer said.
"I think people are angry. I think there's a tendency to feel a lack of hope, and I think one of the things that this exhibit is trying to do is give people a sense that small actions can really make you feel involved and a participant in what's going on," he said.
"I think there's a little bit of a sense of hope around what looks like it might be happening in the coming election, but people have to gather together and find common ground and find a way to fight."
The exhibit is more than a collection of artwork, it serves as a visual record of a political moment still being written, highlighting collective action as local residents respond to events unfolding across the country, speakers said.
Tags: art exhibit,
