Some creative souls spent the weekend making a public statement with mud! Activists in Wisconsin created mud stencils to send a message to Dept. of Corrections Security Chief Dan Westfield who, a year ago, banned used book delivery to prisoners. The book service had been run by the Rainbow Bookstore for years.
"Why Deny Used Books to WI Prisoners?" (Madison, WI)
In light of not so nice news in the world of libraries and social justice, here’s two nice things about today:
1) Someone told me I ‘looked’ like a librarian (without knowing I am one) as I sat researching away on my computer, which they followed with the exclamation, “God, I love libraries!”
2) I visited one of my favorite art blogs for some web/graphic design inspiration, and I saw this:
by Mary Tremonte, www.justseeds.org
God, I love artists who love libraries.
Univ. of Mich. Labadie Collection Exhibit "The Whole World Was Watching" runs through 1/11/09
I just finished writing for a new book on multiracial coalition among anti-poverty activists in the 1960s (it’ll be out next winter through Melville House). It considers the unprecedented social change sparked 40 years ago. The book would not have been possible without the devotion of archivists and special collections librarians, along with those activists who shared their stories. Those dedicated archivists and community leaders have put together a number of great 1968 anniversary exhibits this year. Since a few of those exhibits are still running, now’s as good a time as any to go check them out:
CHICAGO
"Rising Up Angry & Chicago's Early Rainbow Coalition" at DePaul Univ. through 1/12/09
The Chicago Oral History Project of the Center for Latino Research presents:
Radicals in Black & Brown: Pa’lante, People’s Power and Common Cause in the Black Panthers and Young Lords Organization
and
Rising Up Angry and Chicago’s Early Rainbow Coalition, 1968-1975
Exhibit runs through January 12, 2009
Closing Celebration: January 12, 6pm
Haber Lounge, John T. Richardson Library
DePaul University, 2350 N. Kenmore Ave, Chicago, IL
ANN ARBOR
Julie Herrada of the Labadie Collection (University of Michigan Library) presents:
The Whole World Was Watching: Protest and Revolution in 1968
Exhibit runs until January 11, 2009
Hatcher Graduate Library Room 100
Univ. of Michigan, 920 North University, Ann Arbor, MI
You can also hear more from Julie Herrada and others on 1968 collections by watching video from the UC Berkeley Archives of Dissent. Click here to watch on YouTube.
Today I saw a great art exhibit at the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO): Banned & Recovered: Artists Respond to Censorship. The show includes some truly beautiful pieces including an installation by Oakland artist Victor Cartagena in tribute to one of my favorite poets, Roque Dalton. Dalton’s poems rain down from the ceiling and cover the walls, while the doorway to the room reminds us: “Yes, we are not made of ‘words alone,’ but Dalton’s words were banned and he lost his life because of them.” Another great piece brings Toni Morrison’s Beloved to life, and another depicts the burning of Harry Potter books in cities across the U.S.
Co-presented with the San Francisco Center for the Book, the exhibit runs until December 31, 2008.
AAMLO 659 14th Street, Oakland , CA
Gallery hours: Tues-Sat, 12-5:30
Preview:
Artist: Liz Hager
Artist: Victor Cartagena
