EXPRESSING THE SOCIAL CONSCIENCE:
Art Prints and Human Rights; Curated by Bill Pangburn & Thalia Vrachopoulos
JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, City of New York University, proudly presents the exhibition
Expressing the Social Conscience: Art Prints and Human Rights curated by Thalia Vrachopoulos and Bill Pangburn,
from October 29th-December 14th, 2012 with an opening reception on Wednesday, November 7th, 2012
from 5:30-7:30 PM.
The objective of this show is to feature fine arts prints dealing with issues of human rights in order to demonstrate the rich variegation of the medium but also to convey the immediacy of their social message.
Human rights issues are the most appropriate of themes for this medium because the print has been historically used to reach the greatest number of people and its development is linked to the rise of the middle classes. This has been the case with Ukiyo-e Japanese prints in the Yoshiwara district that depicted performers, and actors, as well as geishas and sumo wrestlers. It was also the case in Holland as seen in the prints of Rembrandt van Rijn whose objective was to disseminate Christian values to the masses by making prints cheap and affordable to the masses. In the United States of the thirties we saw a proliferation of posters and prints igniting the fires of many a union rally or political event as well as protest against racism and inequity.
The print artists featured in the show address social problems and concerns from women's to civil rights, to political and cultural issues prevailing in contemporary societies globally. A good example is Leon Golub, an artist who represents the classic political art through his unique representation of apartheid or Jacob Lawrence through his depiction of struggles for freedom. Despina Meimaroglou deals with issues that are of great social magnitude such as inter-border trafficking of boys and girls sold into prostitution, the senselessness of killing, and the devastation and aftermath of conflict. Willie Cole uses his iron stamping to channel the exploitation of the black population (his mother ironed clothes to make a living) into an aesthetic expression, whereas the Guerilla Girls address women's rights through the perspective of the art world. Others, such as Ralph Fassanella, Philip Reisman and Paul Marcus, create etchings that deal with the working classes, the unions and labor.
The print is the most democratic medium capable of reaching the largest amount of people and affecting the most change. It is the intent of this show to impact viewers through its content but also through its medium which in itself is of social relevance.
The Gallery at John Jay College is located on the corner of 59th Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan. The Gallery is free and open to the public Mon - Fri, 1 - 5pm.
For more information please contact the curators:
Dr. Thalia Vrachopoulos, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 646.344.9009
Bill Pangburn, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 212.691.7978
About John Jay College of Criminal Justice: An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York offers a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to upwards of 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations. In teaching, scholarship and research, the College approaches justice as an applied art and science in service to society and as an ongoing conversation about fundamental human desires for fairness, equality and the rule of law. For more information, visitwww.jjay.cuny.edu.
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