Signal: 01: A Journal of International Political Graphics & Culture

by Alec Dunn (Editor), Josh MacPhee (Editor)

Signal is an ongoing book series dedicated to documenting and sharing compelling graphics, art projects, and cultural movements of international resistance and liberation struggles. Artists and cultural workers have been at the center of upheavals and revolts the world over, from the painters and poets in the Paris Commune to the poster makers and street theatre performers of the recent Occupy movement. Signal will bring these artists and their work to a new audience, digging deep through our common history to unearth their images and stories. We have no doubt that Signal will come to serve as a unique and irreplaceable resource for activist artists and academic researchers, as well as an active forum for critique of the role of art in revolution. Highlights of the first volume of Signal
In the US there is a tendency to focus only on the artworks produced within our shores or from English speaking producers. Signal reaches beyond those bounds, bringing material produced the world over, translated from dozens of languages and collected from both the present and decades past. Though it is a full-color printed publication, Signal is not limited to the graphic arts. Within its pages you will find political posters and fine arts, comics and murals, street art, site-specific works, zines, art collectives, documentation of performance and articles on the often overlooked but essential role all of these have played in struggles around the world.

Genres: Art

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Jimmy Melnarik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up at the Microcosm shop in Portland a few months back. The text is made up mostly of interviews with printmakers and designers who participated creatively in various social and protest movements of the past. Of particular interest for me was the future of Xicanx printmaking interview and the Mexican Student movement of '68 pieces. The images are bold and arresting. Woodcuts, screen prints, linocuts... all made in haste, without much money at all. Art from the ground up. The segments on graffiti art and children's spaces were also really cool to see.

It seems that there's five volumes of this journal now, so I'll need to catch up!

[Jesse Hilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could read this whole series. Lots of clever graphics with their hearts in the right place (usually said of well-meaning blunderers, not quite true here, but we cannot bear to give leftists the benefit of the doubt, that would be giving away the whole shop wouldn’t it)

[Valkyrie Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for the anarchist minded graphic designer or artist.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[MacKenzie Abernethy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphics play an important part in progressive movements and protest by changing abstract issues into visual communication.This great little series spotlights cultural graphic workers fighting for peace, justice, and liberation on an international level, with interviews at the center of revolts across the globe - from the painters and poets in the Paris Commune to the web designers, graffiti artists, and street performers.

To see my full review with image examples: http://planestrainsnpages.tumblr.com/...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've become very interested in graphic art in general and posters in particular over the last year, and this is a great little book with a variety of time periods, styles, and struggles represented. I will look out for future issues.

[Mills College Library]

769.22 S5781