Last month, my sculpture, Juliet Seignious’ paintings, and our collaborative art were displayed in a pop-up show Re/Viewing Oppression at the Ann Arbor Art Center.  During the same month,  Protest Art was displayed and a panel of activists talked with visitors. The art show and the panel were invigorating as we witnessed the power of posters, signs and slogans and explored our voices to increase fairness for all of us.  

At the closing reception, gallery visitors pulled up chairs, snacked on grapes, cheese, pizzelles and talked about art, imprisonment, the shooting of unarmed black men and women by police.    

Art enlarges our understanding and redefines it. When we view art, we are inside someone else’s vision. Thus, art helps appreciate our world and see it in a new way. Andy Warhol redefined commercial products and the shades of human flesh; Basquiat unveiled the beauty of urban streets, Picasso displayed changing interpretations of forms and faces inspired by a new love.

I never considered art as an agent of change, but as an expression of images that thrilled me–beautiful or ugly or distressing or glorious. But always compelling as displays of new visual imagination. I had not thought of art as a catalyst for political, societal exploration, transformation, and insight. And yet, the group at the reception made it clear that the art, the discussion allowed a sharing and increased understanding. The discussion at the closing reception indicated how viewing art can be a bridge between people to discuss issues and feelings. Yes, art can provoke it. And yes art can make it easier to explore issues. 

When we display political images, we are confronted with problems yet to solve; we are reminded of history that can stagger again to reemerge. Issues of oppression do not vanish by themselves.

Art is a gateway allowing us to discuss, share, explore. And as Juliet says, “….bring it into our consciousness. And this is how art can be really valuable.”