PROTEST SIGNS
My studio is happy to host protest sign-making workshops. Using affordable materials like recycled cardboard, canvas drop-cloths and PVC pipe, making big visuals for direct actions can be a fast fun cheap community activity.
Racial justice and women's march signs
2016 & 2017
Group sign-making workshops
Volunteers made these banners and signs at gatherings before a large local rally against police brutality in 2016, and the MN women's march in 2017. Members of the church both marched with them and placed them on our altar during the annual MLK day celebration. The sign on the left was made by a volunteer from Socialist Alternative, part of a group of young people our neighbor invited.
2016 & 2017
Group sign-making workshops
Volunteers made these banners and signs at gatherings before a large local rally against police brutality in 2016, and the MN women's march in 2017. Members of the church both marched with them and placed them on our altar during the annual MLK day celebration. The sign on the left was made by a volunteer from Socialist Alternative, part of a group of young people our neighbor invited.
#noDAPL banners
2017
I traveled to Standing Rock and Oceti Sakowin camp with a group of fellow seminary students as part of a day of clergy action and group prayer. Lakota seminary student Kelly Sherman Conroy commissioned the banners as part of our group's moral witness against exploitation of native land and sacred water. They are painted with acrylics and latex (and an accidental bit of oil paint) on scraps of canvas dropcloth.
2017
I traveled to Standing Rock and Oceti Sakowin camp with a group of fellow seminary students as part of a day of clergy action and group prayer. Lakota seminary student Kelly Sherman Conroy commissioned the banners as part of our group's moral witness against exploitation of native land and sacred water. They are painted with acrylics and latex (and an accidental bit of oil paint) on scraps of canvas dropcloth.
Selma-Montgomery History Banners
2015
An interfaith group organized a large rally in St. Paul in remembrance of the Selma-Montgomery voting rights march. They commissioned me to make a series of banners that briefly told the story of the historic march. This one reminds viewers that the march was not the first courageous direct action by southern black activists to push for fair voting rights. They are painted with acrylic and latex house paint on canvas dropcloth, and held to diy PVC stands with metal grommets and zip ties.
If I could design these again, I'd add air vents and probably PVC supports--the day of the memorial march was windy and it took strength for our teen marchers to hold them steady!
2015
An interfaith group organized a large rally in St. Paul in remembrance of the Selma-Montgomery voting rights march. They commissioned me to make a series of banners that briefly told the story of the historic march. This one reminds viewers that the march was not the first courageous direct action by southern black activists to push for fair voting rights. They are painted with acrylic and latex house paint on canvas dropcloth, and held to diy PVC stands with metal grommets and zip ties.
If I could design these again, I'd add air vents and probably PVC supports--the day of the memorial march was windy and it took strength for our teen marchers to hold them steady!
Justice 4 Jamar signs
2016
In 2016, local police murdered our neighbor Jamar Clark just a few miles from the church. He was young, unarmed and black. Community members rose up in protest and occupied the 4th precinct police station grounds for 21 days. Redeemer hosted sign-making gatherings to prepare for public witness in the streets. We made dozens of signs on recycled cardboard to hand out at a large rally, using colors and phrases that corresponded to the #justice4jamar campaign demands and our own faith witness.
2016
In 2016, local police murdered our neighbor Jamar Clark just a few miles from the church. He was young, unarmed and black. Community members rose up in protest and occupied the 4th precinct police station grounds for 21 days. Redeemer hosted sign-making gatherings to prepare for public witness in the streets. We made dozens of signs on recycled cardboard to hand out at a large rally, using colors and phrases that corresponded to the #justice4jamar campaign demands and our own faith witness.
"White Shame Spiral"
2017
Co-conspirator Shari Seifert and I, in collaboration with various community organizations, have done a series of conversations for white people newly seeking to be involved in racial justice work. The workshop focuses on naming self-work that white people can do ahead of time, in appropriate spaces, to reduce harm when we attempt to get more involved in POCI-led racial justice work. I created cardboard art visuals of some of the key concepts that we had learned from our communities.
2017
Co-conspirator Shari Seifert and I, in collaboration with various community organizations, have done a series of conversations for white people newly seeking to be involved in racial justice work. The workshop focuses on naming self-work that white people can do ahead of time, in appropriate spaces, to reduce harm when we attempt to get more involved in POCI-led racial justice work. I created cardboard art visuals of some of the key concepts that we had learned from our communities.
Good Friday Cross
2017
This cardboard cross was created in collaboration with a group connected to Mennonite Worker house, doing a liturgical direct action at the MN Governor's mansion on Good Friday to draw attention to forces of crucifixion in our society today. Participants specifically wanted Governor Dayton to veto HF 896, a bill that aimed to raise penalties for racial justice protesters engaged in civil disobedience. After much public pressure, the bill was vetoed.
Learn more about this liturgical direct action and others like it at:
https://www.propheticimagination.org/liturgical-direct-action/
2017
This cardboard cross was created in collaboration with a group connected to Mennonite Worker house, doing a liturgical direct action at the MN Governor's mansion on Good Friday to draw attention to forces of crucifixion in our society today. Participants specifically wanted Governor Dayton to veto HF 896, a bill that aimed to raise penalties for racial justice protesters engaged in civil disobedience. After much public pressure, the bill was vetoed.
Learn more about this liturgical direct action and others like it at:
https://www.propheticimagination.org/liturgical-direct-action/