Our printmaking instructor Nikki Barber has been printing posters in her basement for protest rallies and marches. “I feel responsible to stand up for my friends who are Black and my friends who are Brown, since I white-pass so easily, but am not white.”
Nikki Barber, printmaking press
Nikki has been active in the social, political, and art in Seattle for years. She helped write this statement for racial justice with the Seattle Print Arts board. Any time there is a need for social justice or reform, Nikki thinks about this quote by 20th century American journalist A. J. Why: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.” (New Yorker, May 14, 1960, p. 109, paywall)
Nikki Barber, edition of posters
Nikki also named José Guadalupe Posada for his influence in shaping print arts for the people, by the people [There will be a V. Note about Posada tomorrow]. When asked about applying her print arts as activism for the people, Nikki said “I believe printmakers have an obligation to deliver information and agency to the people – especially to those who cannot access or give it to themselves.”
“Intersectionality is often overlooked when talking about racial and social justice. It should not be.” Nikki continued, “Black lives matter. Black trans lives and Black women’s lives fit into this as well. Women often get spoken over, looked over, or forgotten about, so I chose Breonna Taylor and Charleena Lyles to highlight their murders that happened before George Floyd’s. Breonna Taylor was 26 when she was murdered. Charleena Lyles was pregnant when she was shot in North Seattle two years ago.”
“I believe printmakers have an obligation to deliver information and agency to the people – especially to those who cannot access or give it to themselves.” – Nikki Barber, League Printmaking Instructor
I’ll be sharing my drawings on Facebook. I’d love for you to share yours too. Maybe we’ll get some people jumping in to join us. Post your pics on the Seattle Artist League‘s Facebook, or Instagram at SeattleArtLeague. #drawingaday #seattleartleague
[image_with_animation image_url=”9424″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] My last V. Note focused on Cezanne’s Objects, a series of photographs from Joel Meyerowitz, a street photographer who documented still life objects of Cezanne and Morandi. I posted Cezanne’s earlier, so today I’ll post his photographs of Morandi’s objects. In the photographs taken in Morandi’s studio, the photographer sat …
[image_with_animation image_url=”8351″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Antoni Tapies, a Catalan painter (1923-2012) added texture to modern abstraction with his mixed material canvasses. His works are defined by the word ‘materico.’ Tapies created new languages around simple objects and rough textures, “unlocking the poetry possible in a sock.” (Huffington Post) Materico: Italian, adopted into english. Textured, …
Print Arts and Activism
Portrait of Charleena Lyles
#saymyname
Our printmaking instructor Nikki Barber has been printing posters in her basement for protest rallies and marches. “I feel responsible to stand up for my friends who are Black and my friends who are Brown, since I white-pass so easily, but am not white.”
Nikki has been active in the social, political, and art in Seattle for years. She helped write this statement for racial justice with the Seattle Print Arts board. Any time there is a need for social justice or reform, Nikki thinks about this quote by 20th century American journalist A. J. Why: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.” (New Yorker, May 14, 1960, p. 109, paywall)
Nikki also named José Guadalupe Posada for his influence in shaping print arts for the people, by the people [There will be a V. Note about Posada tomorrow]. When asked about applying her print arts as activism for the people, Nikki said “I believe printmakers have an obligation to deliver information and agency to the people – especially to those who cannot access or give it to themselves.”
Say My Name
Portrait of Breonna Taylor
Portrait of Charleena Lyles
“Intersectionality is often overlooked when talking about racial and social justice. It should not be.” Nikki continued, “Black lives matter. Black trans lives and Black women’s lives fit into this as well. Women often get spoken over, looked over, or forgotten about, so I chose Breonna Taylor and Charleena Lyles to highlight their murders that happened before George Floyd’s. Breonna Taylor was 26 when she was murdered. Charleena Lyles was pregnant when she was shot in North Seattle two years ago.”
“I believe printmakers have an obligation to deliver information and agency to the people – especially to those who cannot access or give it to themselves.” – Nikki Barber, League Printmaking Instructor
Hey you.
Printmaking class starts June 16.
Learn anywhere. Make anywhere. League online classes.
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I’ll be sharing my drawings on Facebook. I’d love for you to share yours too. Maybe we’ll get some people jumping in to join us. Post your pics on the Seattle Artist League‘s Facebook, or Instagram at SeattleArtLeague. #drawingaday #seattleartleague
Morandi’s Dust
[image_with_animation image_url=”9424″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] My last V. Note focused on Cezanne’s Objects, a series of photographs from Joel Meyerowitz, a street photographer who documented still life objects of Cezanne and Morandi. I posted Cezanne’s earlier, so today I’ll post his photographs of Morandi’s objects. In the photographs taken in Morandi’s studio, the photographer sat …
Drawing A Day, Day 24
Apologies for the mistakes in numbered days. The headings (above) are correct. Sometimes the pictures (below) are alternate versions of correct.
Materico: unlocking the poetry possible in a sock
[image_with_animation image_url=”8351″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Antoni Tapies, a Catalan painter (1923-2012) added texture to modern abstraction with his mixed material canvasses. His works are defined by the word ‘materico.’ Tapies created new languages around simple objects and rough textures, “unlocking the poetry possible in a sock.” (Huffington Post) Materico: Italian, adopted into english. Textured, …