The public is invited to hear artist Shaun Slifer, a longtime member of Justseeds, an international printmaking cooperative, have a public discussion on Saturday, March 31 with Franklin Street Works Creative Director Terri C. Smith at her organization, located at 41 Franklin St., Stamford.
Image from the Franklin Street Works announcement for the event
They will discuss the collective’s work, Slifer’s personal practice, and the variety of ways art and activism can intersect.
— an announcement from Franklin Street Works
This event is free, open to the public and includes a wine reception. It takes place from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, March 30 at Franklin Street Works, 41 Franklin St., Stamford.
The next day — Sunday, March 31 — a print demonstration from Justseeds will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk.
“Justseeds is an integral part of a historical, international tradition of printed graphics and other cultural production as a critical element of social movements towards justice,” says Slifer.
“I’m thrilled to be discussing art, activism and Justseeds with Shaun Slifer,” says Smith, “He and I have known each other for more than 15 years, so it will be a lively, casual conversation between friends. I’m also enthusiastic about Franklin Street Works’ first collaboration with the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, whose work we greatly respect.”
The conversation with Justseeds and the print demo at the Center for Contemporary printmaking are part of the exhibition programming for Franklin Street Works group exhibition “Collective Action Archive: Redux,” which includes materials from Justseeds.
Photo from Franklin Street Works on Facebook
Shaun Slifer from Justseeds
The show is the newest addition to the non-profit contemporary art space’s ongoing exploration of intersections between art and activism, featuring materials from more than 30 U.S. artist/activist collectives. It is on view through Sept. 8, 2019.
With members working from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Justseeds Artist Cooperative operates both as a unified collaboration of similarly minded printmakers and as a loose collection of creative individuals with unique viewpoints and working methods.
Saturday’s event is sponsored in part by the City of Stamford CAPP grant. Justseeds is one of the exhibiting artist/activist collectives in Franklin Street Works’ group exhibition, “Collective Action Archive: Redux,” which is on view from Feb. 9 to Sept. 8, 2019.
Event at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking
There will be a second Justseeds event the next day on Sunday, March 31 from 2-4 pm. The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, (299 West Ave., Norwalk) will host Slifer for a print demonstration.
Sponsored by The Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP), this free, public program is a collaboration between CCP, Franklin Street Works and Triangle Community Center (TCC).
It will take place in CCP’s upstairs studio where Slifer will help visitors to screenprint posters that read “You Belong Here.” The slogan was chosen by TCC in celebration of International Transgender Day of Visibility, which is on March 31.
Between demonstrations, attendees can view Justseeds portfolios and discuss their work in art and activism with Slifer. The event is structured so folks can drop in throughout and join at any time during the demonstration.
About Justseeds
Justseeds is a decentralized, worker-owned cooperative of 29 artists throughout North America. Justseeds members produce handmade prints and publications which are distributed through their website and at conferences and events related to social and environmental movements.
Members also work individually as graphic designers for and within a broad swath of social and environmental activist causes in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and provide many of these graphics as free online downloads. As a collective body, Justseeds has produced several gallery exhibitions of both print work and collaborative sculptural installation.
About Franklin Street Works
Franklin Street Works is a not-for- profit contemporary art space whose mission is to manifest contemporary art in a professional and welcoming setting. Franklin Street Works aims to broaden community participation in the arts, contribute to a larger arts dialogue, and cultivate emerging artists.
To date, the organization has exhibited the work of more than 350 artists, curated 30 original exhibitions, and organized approximately 150 programs, including talks, tours, and performances.
Their work has received national and regional support, including two multi-year grants from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts as well as regional grants from Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, Connecticut Office of the Arts, New Canaan Community Foundation, among others.
Exhibitions have been recognized with positive reviews in major publications such as Artforum online, Art in America online, Art Papers, The Brooklyn Rail, Huffington Post, Hyperallergic, Art New England, Modern Painters and Two Coats of Paint.