A Peaceful Protest Pop-Up Show
More than 100 artists have prepared responses to President Trump’s first few months in the White House and will unveil them in a pop-up show titled 100 Days: The Creatives Respond. The two-day event will stretch across downtown Oshkosh and showcase visual, performance and musical art from professionals, students, educators and citizens from as close as Oshkosh and as far as Mérida, Mexico. Cristian Andersson, the show’s organizer, Oshkosh artist and manager of Matchbook Studio LLC, started to orchestrate the event in the wake of President Trump’s inauguration. After considering his voice and what he could contribute to the worldwide debate, he decided instead to create a platform for other voices.
“When I started this back in January, I had no idea how fellow creators would react to the event,” Andersson says. “I envisioned questions like: Why should I make political work? Does it fit in with what I do, and how will affect those who know my work for something specific? Can I talk about these issues? As people reached out to me across the Fox Valley, and then the Midwest, and then outside of the country… I had my answer. They were all just looking for a platform and a sense that it was OK to make their thoughts known, even if they may not consider themselves an expert on what they wanted to say. And that’s really how we can begin to solve issues and heal divides. By taking a chance and speaking up. Finding the support we need, and then putting it out into the community. Trusting that if we make a plea for ideals such as: an acceptance regardless of who we are, a world that is diverse and healthy, and a government that represents the ideals of a population that just wants to feel secure and understood… we may get somewhere. And that is why an event like ‘100 Days’ is so timely. Creating this opportunity is one of the most important things I feel like I have done, and I completely appreciate all of the creators, business owners, city organizers and community members who have made a point to support this project.”
Artist’s statement: “We create sanctuary in spaces that we hold sacred. These spaces may be physical, enclosed by four walls, in open fields or metaphorically in the hearts of others, in our journals or in hobbies that bring us back to our natural state of being. These spaces are created because there is an innate need to recuperate energy given to and sometimes taken by others. In these places we take refuge, we heal ourselves. In essence, this principle is how we define our self-care. Marginalized people, with our history of being directly affected by policies that do more harm than good to our communities, face even more uncertainty under the presidency of Tr*mp. With our healthcare and value of our education at risk, Art serves more than to be a pretty thing on a wall. It creates dialogue and avenues to help folks become self-sustainable. The aim of this project is to add visual literacy to the concept of self-care and remind ourselves we have the capacity to be healers for ourselves and our community.The Chrysalis Project is a photo series that centers wellness practices and how we define the ritual and nature of self-care.”
Art has become either commercial or overly intellectual. I wanted to create a space for differing, complex and unique voices to be political with the public. -Andersson
100 Days: The Creatives Respond is meant to remind our community that citizens can play an active role in the direction of our country. Our voices do not stop at the ballot box. -Andersson
Saturday, April 29
10 a.m.-8 p.m.: Visual art on display at Matchbook Studio LLC (219 Market St.), Art Space Collective (7 Merritt Ave.), and Jambalaya Arts Inc. (413 N. Main St.)
Noon-5 p.m.: Live music at The Exclusive Company (318 N. Main St.)
2-3 p.m.: Poetry and spoken word performances at the Oshkosh Public Library (106 Washington Ave.)
3-4 p.m.: Mediated public forum at the Oshkosh Public Library
6:30-7:30 p.m.: Live music at Jambalaya
Sunday, April 30
Noon-5 p.m.: Visual art on display at Matchbook Studio LLC (219 Market St.), Art Space Collective (7 Merritt Ave.) and Jambalaya Arts Inc. (413 N. Main St.)
Noon-5 p.m.: Live music outside Jambalaya
2 p.m.: Solidarity Chain performance piece and live music at Opera House Square (corner of Algoma Boulevard and Main Street)
More details on the “100 Days” Facebook event page!
CREDITS
Text: Chloé Allyn
Header Artwork: Karla Lauden
