Art as Resistance

History’s Perspective–Elizabeth Gurley Flynn

Ricardo Levins Morales, 2008 

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a labor leader, activist, and feminist, played a leading role in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) during the early 1900s. A founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1920, Flynn boldly advocated for reproductive and voting rights for women. “History has a long-range perspective. It ultimately passes stern judgment on tyrants and vindicates those who fought, suffered, were imprisoned, and died for human freedom against political oppression and economic slavery.”

Audre Lorde

Molly Crabapple, 2018

Audre Lorde (1934-1992) was an American writer, intersectional feminist, womanist, librarian, and civil rights activist. She is known for her technical mastery and emotional  expression as a poet. Her poems express anger and outrage at civil and social injustices she observed throughout her life. A self-described "black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet," Audre Lorde dedicated both her life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia.

Palestinians Don’t Have Palestine

Mona Tamari, 1985

This artist created these images at age 10, and Vladimir Tamari designed the poster for the occasion of November 29 for the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People. Printed by the Palestinian Liberation Organization of Japan.

Preserve the Right of Choice (Restricted Area)

Trudy Cole, 1993

Trudy Cole designed this poster to promote the understanding that a woman's body is her own, and that she has the ultimate right to say what she does with it.

Catalina’s World

Nancy Hom, 2011

This poster was commissioned for the traveling exhibition “New World Border” on how artists view the issues created by the Mexican/U.S. border wall. My parody of Andrew Wyeth’s “Christina’s World” shows the contrast between the two women and how we perceive them. In his famous painting, Wyeth depicts his neighbor in Maine, who, crippled by polio, is physically challenged but has a strong spirit that helps her conquer her situation. In my version of “Catalina's World,” a Mexican woman is depicted in her challenge to cross the Mexican/U.S. border, but no one praises her extraordinary spirit and will. Instead, she is met with threats of deportation or death.

Palestinians Do Have Rights

Artist Unknown, 1981

This poster declares human rights for Palestinians in Arabic, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The United nations Department of Public Information printed the poster in collaboration with the UN Special Unit on Palestinian Rights.

Day of the Land March 30

Burhan Karkoutly (1932-2003), c.1990

During annual Land Day celebrations, Palestinians protest the loss of land by holding vigils, marching, and planting olive trees. Palestinians began observing Land Day annually after March 30, 1976 when deadly protests resulted from the expropriation of land by Israel.

Poster published by the Arab League and the Palestinian Liberation Organization of Japan.

Indigenous Women Defending Land and Life Since the Beginning of Time

Melanie Cervantes, 2009

As individuals, organizations, communities, and peoples, indigenous women worldwide continually prove their strength in the face of threat and adversity. Indigenous women often live differently and face separate challenges than men despite collectivity. Women preserve culture and tradition and have defended sovereignty for generations. Women struggle for land, acknowledgment of their rights, and against discrimination.

History’s Perspective–Elizabeth Gurley Flynn

Ricardo Levins Morales, 2008 

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a labor leader, activist, and feminist, played a leading role in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) during the early 1900s. A founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1920, Flynn boldly advocated for reproductive and voting rights for women. “History has a long-range perspective. It ultimately passes stern judgment on tyrants and vindicates those who fought, suffered, were imprisoned, and died for human freedom against political oppression and economic slavery.”