Action Mail 29.12.08 Between Christmas and New Year… what to do?

Action Mail 29.12.08
Between Christmas and New Year... what to do?

Hey y'all...

I realise that many are most likely at the summer festivals or dodging the blustery northern chills... most likely trying to forget that which makes us vigilant.

Never the less...

Here's some stuff to read and do and listen to...

ACTIVE MUSICIANS
Click on the Music player on the homepage of our community site to listen to some fine compositions from passionate artists from the world over.

Profiles of note are:
Christopher Stewart - Poligraf >>> Prog Rocking In Quebec City
justjason and morphed productions

Clinton Tyree has added some cool audio too here

or... for something totally weird...
listen to this composition (track 16) by spidergoatal... then follow the weirdness and learn about her interest in the moral dilemma of genetically engineering animals.

RADIO

For those who ignored me last time, I have become involved in community radio... so if you have any ideas that you think should be discussed, the show centres on women's stuff... read more
send any ideas to me or better yet, put them in the AAU forums for all to see...

FEEDBACK...

What can we do to inspire you in 2009
How can we make the redbubble AAU crowd more integral to our world

In short, how can we get you to actually do more in this group... I watch and hype but generally voting on challenges tends to be low, IF that is an indication, and participation in forums is negligible...

the GOOD news is that we do see LOTS of F@#%&G (ahem, sometimes the word is good for emphasis) AWESOME ART THAT IS EXTREME AND PASSIONATE...

We all gotta cleanse somehow, art is good for that...

ACTIONS OF THE DAY...

Brisbanites Unite

The Regent Theatre is under threat...

This facebook group has all the info and links...

To those who don't know, we haven't got much heritage left here...

It's all grey and glass and stainless...

and sterile...

artistically dull if you live in the past like me...

Spread the word and write to the Premier (one Ms. Anna Blight) here...
Premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au

If you aren't on Facebook and don't desire to do so, the official action site is here

Blog For Peace - December 31

More details can be found in Helen's Journal here

You can watch here video about it on AAU Community here

READ MORE IN OUR BLOG FOR PEACE CHALLENGE HERE

SPECIAL THANKS TO HELEN TOO FOR OFTEN HOLDING THE FORT... CAN'T YOU SEE HER WITH HER TIN HAT AND BAZOOKA!

AGAIN... I THINK YOU ROCK HELEN!!!
(btw can you add your attention seeking animated Christmas boobies to the AAU forums somewhere... they are so flashy!)

WORLD TOILET DAY ART CHALLENGE

This interesting challenge just came through my Queensland Environmental Activist Network Group List... All dues go to the author:

The World Toilet Day web site went live this week.
Check out www.insanitation.org

In 2001 the World Toilet Organisation in Singapore declared its founding day – 19th November as "World Toilet Day".

This is now being celebrated by members all over the world. We celebrate the humble, yet vitally important toilet and raise awareness of the global sanitation crisis.

It is not about white porcelain shiny things. The majority of toilets are just a hole in the ground. It is about making the connections between malnutrition and dysentery.

A toilet in a school provides the dignity and privacy for young women to continue their education beyond puberty.

2.6 billion people in the world do not have access to a sustainable, designated place to poo.

A key objective of World Toilet Day is to provoke discussion of toilets and sanitation in everyday conversations.

Event in Brisbane organised by Rowan Barber

TO CELEBRATE SUCH PRECIOUS AWARENESS...

THE ART ACTION UNION...

PRESENTS...

THE WORLD TOILET DAY CHALLENGE

The theme is simple...

A toilet capture of the most political of kind...

Artwork centred around the toilet (aka. loo, crapper, shit-house, poo room, WC, out-house, john, bathroom etc.) as a celebration of the ability to manage our personal waste is a systematic way... a personal thanks to Mr. Thomas Crapper (sp.?)

Give thought in your description to the masses of people who have been denied access to such fundamental sanitary needs...

Be funny, be serious, be gross, be active and aware...

You may also add your entries to our RedBubble Challenge if you are a member of the Art Action Union at RedBubble... or to the Facebook Group... or add it to your profile and our gallery on the Art Action Union Community site

ACTION MAIL - 8 OCTOBER 2008

HI Active Artists...

The Challenged...

Well, there was a little controversy surrounding our first ever redbubble group challenge... we had issues with the launch first up... thanks for your patience in that one... then we had some tough lessons learned... none too major but had to rethink things a little...

Nevertheless... we are not scared to keep it going...

Participation is not exactly in the high echelon of the spectrum... so we would love to see more entries but also, more importantly more VOTING...

I will endeavour to be more proactive in hypin' them up... but it's important for this group to show their concerns are acted ... of course... I don't wish to force people to participate... but rather inspire you to!

We currently have the following challenge live...

OXFAM CANVAS FOR CHANGE REDBUBBLE CHALLENGE
Taking entries still for quite a few days and frankly... there aren't many there - so come on guys... you most likely have something you can enter already - if not, human rights and the environment are very linked... this challenge is only a redbubble challenge, but if you ARE inspired, send your canvas to OXFAM by following the links on the challenge page...

Coming VERY soon to a REDBUBBLE challenge feed near you...

ANIMAL RIGHTS
This challenge opens in the next 24 hours...
Cover image: I helped Test & Approve by crockpot

Some of the educational and fascinating topics from the ART ACTION UNION community site...

"Women in Islam - female genital mutilation - by warchild bender"

"THE ART OF 2012 AND BEYOND NEOLOGY - by Raithy"

"something about tibet - by sunrise"

"activism in extreme music - by Michael Grefski"

"Who Are We Voting For? - by justjason"

"30 years of leading by example - by Ashworth"

"Research: 1kg beef = CO2 emitted by the average car over a distance of 250 kilometres - by Live Vegan"

"The Importance of Developing a Multi- Cultured Society using the meduim of the Arts! - by Ross Naidoo"

"Big Brother is Watching You - by Ashworth"

*Featured Blog is "The story and reasons behind creating the SpIderGoAtaL costume.. by SpIderGoAtaL"

Featured Image is "Victims" by Warchild Bender

Join our Facebook Group if you are there and help spread the word...*

Aspire to inspire!

Kath

ACTION MAIL 23 SEPTEMBER 2008

ACTION MAIL 23 SEPTEMBER 2008

Congratulations to cometman for winning the art action union freedom to create challenge on the redbubble site.

You can view all the entries here

Our New "Challenge!!!

Although the Oxfam Challenge is for painters only, we invite you to use your individual skills and talents in whichever medium you love to explore the same theme.

We want you to not only enter our Challenge here on RedBubble but enter it for
OXFAM... the details are below... when you make it... submit it here, there and everywhere...

Oxfam “Canvas for Change” (courtesay of VenusΨ on Heroine)

Oxfam is currently taking entries for the Canvas for Change exhibition. We encourage you to submit an artwork and to tell others about this project. There are various entry categories with the possibility for your artwork to be shown at the UN Climate Summit in Poland later this year, to be shown in other local exhibitions in Australia, or to be reproduced as a poster, postcard or other campaigning materials to help others See the bigger picture.

There are a couple of entry criteria, the key one being that artworks need to show the climate change impacts being felt by vulnerable communities in developing countries, or alternatively show how these communities are taking action to adapt to these impacts.

find out more

Australian Student Environmental Network and YOUR ART!!! (courtesay of Erland Howland)

The Australian Student Environment Network are a group of students and their sympathisers who are dedicated to providing education for the facilitation of activist workshops, meetings and action groups. They provide tools and lists of information to help people become skilled in activism and lobbying.

AAU member Erland, posted this last week... evidently, he is a sympathiser such as I (i.e. not actually a student).

The Australian Student Environment Network a great crew of environmental advocates from universities and schools across Australia are holding an art auction fundraiser on October 17 and they are looking for donations.

If you can provide an artwork, please contact me by BubbleMail or via my contact form here.

ASEN do a whole bunch of great work, from putting on the Students of Sustainability Conference each year (which is actually the largest annual environmental conference in Australia!), training high school kids and university students in climate change, facilitation and activism, and working with local indigenous people on campaigns like Uranium mining in the NT and the poisonous gold mining at Lake Cowal.

Next Facebook Art For Awareness Application Submissions

I am planning another adventure in the world of facebook virtual gifting for awareness, I assure you it's all for the messages...

This one will be themed for the ENVIRONMENT... so I will only be accepting images based on this theme. Submissions can be as simple or as complex as you like but must address the theme...

Please send ALL submissions to contact@artactionunion.org...

Our current Art For Awareness application stats to date are...

Monthly Active Users
242
About Page Fans
31
Total Users
443
Sent
5246

I wrote up some stats in the last mail if you are interested in comparing here.

Trees Are Homes has been sent 713 times which was great exposure and seeing some of the comments on the site has been invaluably amusing!

This is one way to send the ideas out further... trying to find others...

Video that's easy - for awareness if you like

One thing that I did find that has been fun is the powers of Animoto.com ... you can make a FREE 30 sec movie with no more than a few stills and a YouTube account...

I made one and added it to my YouTube Channel and the art action union community site and it was great fun... i uploaded a couple of photos, added a title and chose a piece of free music from their libray... the site then proceeded to mash it all together through some filters and the result was ACTIVE ART.



Enthused so much by it, I am now looking at making vids on and of my own... inspiring!

Aspire to Inspire!...

Kath

Our Network is Growing

Hello creative pro-activists!

Another update!

Our Network Is Growing Bigger!!!

You are all contributing to global positivity and awareness in so many beautiful and creative ways... so, in order to serve you better, myself and some other key investors are working very hard to provide you with a higher pedestal and a bigger soapbox. So keep making great art, tshirts and whatever it takes to move us to a conscientious world.

Some stats, 'cause they are always a really good visual pleaser!

The Art Action Union Network...

Redbubble Art Action Group the group that just constantly make stuff
377 members

Facebook Art Action Awareness Group the group that brings new recruits and promotes our activities
91 members

Facebook Art For Awareness Gift Application a little program where you can send artistic gifts from artists who receive exposure along with the messages
363 total users (current people with the application installed on their pages)
4800 sent items
198 monthly active users
15 about page fans (including 2 reviews)

Art Action Union Community where we have convergence
59 members
441 images
25 videos
20 audios (songs and spoken word)
25 active forums
12 groups

... and counting!

We are also spreading our wings wherever it be relevant with memberships to activist groups, art groups etc. I list forums in the weirdest of places... hee he...

This is always expanding...

In the beautiful future, we will have everything of our own... the site is being expanded in concept and soon we hope to have a hugely integrated dedicated and independent site... ideas that we float around are community functions, a gallery for images/sound/video, forums, and a wiki contribution for articles and education.

A massive artistic web collaboration for action... lovin' it!

Other stuff...

EVENTS...

AAU Beach Clean in Sopporo, Japan

Over the weekend just past, the Art Action Union was involved in it's first environmental event to date... a beach cleanup in Sopporo Japan, organised by my friend and intellectual investor Barry (you can see his amazing photography at www.artactionunioncommunity.ning.com)...

As soon as I hear what went on and see some photos, I'll let you know of it's success...

Exhibition Opportunities of the Future

I hope to add to the plethora of services that the AAU offer their artists and supporters in the future by forging links with other organisations and the business sector... one such hope was floated on Friday when I met with a group who wanted to discuss with me the prospect of the Art Action Union assisting them with sourcing artists from the Asia Pacific region for exhibitions and artist talks at key business convergence events to aid in the understanding of the arts culture and business integration of this region... if you have heritage of the Asia Pacific (or are heavily influenced by it in your art) and may be interested, I have no time frame, but would love to add you to my database (contact@artactionunion.org)... talent scout I am now!!!

E-Newsletter

This will hopefully go out through the email this week or so, but there is still time to add yourself to our mailing list... send me a request to subscribe at contact@artactionunion.org

happy days...

Kathleen

ART ACTION UNION
contact@artactionunion.org
artactionunioncommunity.ning.com
kathleen.redbubble.com

ACTION MAIL - 8.7.2008

+Unionists...
News and bits and pieces for your glorious knowledge...

Peace Sign Competition...

sugarpop is the managing editor of arabad magazine, Beirut – Lebanon... They are kicking out to the audience a celebratory competition offering cash prizes... the theme "Peace poster design contest at the occasion of the 50 years of the peace sign".

More information below...
flickr: www.flickr.com/groups/arabadpeace
blog: http://arabadvertising.blogspot.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14760881596

Interesting Interviews of Interesting Interest

Just posted my latest interview with aid-worker/photographer Jacob Simkin...

1001 - Jacob Simkin Is In Afghanistan Interview

You may also enjoy... Chris Barker Interview

Facebook Stuff...

Art For Awareness Gift Application Update...

Since the release of the little Art For Awareness Facebook Gift Program the stats are (at last count):

Sent: 2073 times...
Total Users: 160...

I think this is a great effort for just over a week of circulation... and there has been more awareness of our groups, our action, our artists and our art brought forward, this group has swelled greatly with membership in recent weeks... You can still contribute art as a gift image if you wish, send a URL of your activist piece to me in a bubblemail...

Facebook Application _Art for Awareness_ Fan page

Group posts...

Been putting links up for anything relevant that casually comes my way about activism in the news and the arts, please feel free to contribute but I must stress relevance... thank you...

Facebook Art Action Union Group

The Gift of Art

A collective of photographer's that are promoting their effort through RedBubble and everywhere else possible to raise money for charity... Read it all here and see the artists involved and their charitable contributions...

Promotional Materials & Street Teams...

A few people have decided to add our banner...










{For information on how to insert images into your Redbubble profile click here}

... in their profile pages...

when there is more time to focus on pretty graphics, I will be making a whole heap of graphics, gifs and things for us to spread around the net like a virus.... in the meantime though, please feel 100% free to take this graphic and promote it wherever the hell you can...

The idea of having Art Action Union Street Teams is one I have been floating around for ages now... it basically involves recruiting dedicated active members to take these promotional tools and materials, all the web URL's, emails and newsletters and whatever other promotion you need or want, and start actively going to other sites to spread the word, sending it to friends and handing out pamphlets in the street... maybe we can even make merch and fundraise for something significant one day... ahhh a dream... but one worth sending you all anyway... If you are interested in petitioning for the Union as an active outlet and network for creative activism... please add your name to this list in the forums.

Orphans in North America

North American Artists need to take ACTION NOW to protect their property...

Read more from these contributions...

ORPHAN WORKS ACT?!!!!!?!? - justjason

April's Blog Announcement

Our Independent Protest Portal

And the exciting news is that, we are hopefully nearly at the end of the website project... just gotta get the stuff sorted better and then Faizan needs to do it... but he is doing it for free so please CONSIDER PURCHASING SOMETHING OF HIS WORK that would be lovely for him... but not till he finishes the site haa ha ha...

Find a glimpse of how it will look:
Art Action Union Website Sneak Peak


Lastly... some topics of interest for discussion in the forums

I wish there was oil in Zimbabwe
Gangs
mohawk indians - land takeover?
Carbon Trading

All campaigns are always current (unfortunately)...
Aspire To Inspire!!!
kath

ANTI-RACISM CAMPAIGN is doing great...

BELOW IS THE ACTION PUT OUT ON THE 16th JUNE

ANTI-RACISM CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

ACTION !!!
RACISM SUX!!!

Gather your creative and social conscience powers, make a t-shirt, piece of art, write a poem or a journal and upload it. Express your story and yourself in a positive and outward way. Not only can you provide another voice to create a better force, but you might help someone else (and yourself) feel better.

BELOW IS THE EXCELLENT RESPONSE TO THE ACTION PUT OUT ON THE 16th JUNE

Here are some of the incredible thoughtful and positive pieces...


There are also a number of great expressive written pieces in the writing and journal section of the Art Action Union Group

ANTI-RACISM CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

ANTI-RACISM CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

ACTION !!!
RACISM SUX!!!

It's plain and simple.

Racism is an evil that is degrading moral judgment in communities locally and globally. With all the information available, there are many who still choose to create marginalisation through discrimination based on the triviality of culture and skin.

ART WANTED
TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE
DIVERSITY AND ACCEPTANCE
IN ALL COMMUNITIES

Campaign initiator is Art Action Union member littleredplanet, he aproached the AAU with this idea:

Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to another, that a person’s social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics. Racial separatism is the belief, most of the time based on racism, that different races should remain segregated and apart from one another.

We would like to encourage the public and the Red Bubble Community to reflect on the numerous forms that racial discrimination can take in society. In addition, we invite our RedBubble Community to join forces in the fight against racism.

This event not only acknowledges the potential of peoples from around the world. It also represents a tangible effort to build a society characterized by harmony, equality and respect for diversity.

Gather your creative and social conscience powers, make a t-shirt, piece of art, write a poem or a journal and upload it. Express your story and yourself in a positive and outward way. Not only can you provide another voice to create a better force, but you might help someone else (and yourself) feel better.

ACTION NEWS - APRIL 14 2008

ACTION !!!
ACTION NEEDED NOW BY NORTH AMERICAN ARTISTS

Your rights as a creative are under threat! A bill is being promoted whereby artwork, animations or anything creative made by YOU will be FREE PUBLIC DOMAIN UNLESS you pay $5 per piece to register your copyright. ACT NOW to protect your intellectual property as artists (the starving ones need you most!) IF THIS BILL IS MADE LAW, WILL LEGALISE ART THEFT AND EXPLOITATION OF ARTISTS IN THE US!
Article Link
Other ACTION links to help you find VOICE...
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate
Open Source Letter Posted by Helen Bascom, copy and adapt to suit, permission granted! For more links and info. you can also visit Helen's Journal.
Here is the letter I faxed to my Representative and sent via email. Feel free to adapt this letter for your use - Helen Bascom

Congressman Baron Hill
279 Quartermaster Ct.
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
Phone: (812) 288-3999
Fax: (812) 288-3873

Re: The Orphan Works legislation

Dear Congressman Hill:

My name is Helen M. Bascom and I live in Jeffersonville, Indiana. After reading about the Orphan Works bill, I am outraged that this could happen in my country.

This Orphan Works legislation, if passed, will severely impact my income and life as an artist/photographer. Not only will it give license for others to legally steal and use my work for free, it will be virtually impossible for me to afford the time and money to register my creations in all the potential new registries. Commercial registries will be the only organizations that will profit from this legislation.

I have thousands of photographs and works of art and I simply can not afford to register my works, even at a few dollars each. This bill, if passed, will force me to close my on line galleries which will destroy my business. Should someone consider my work to be orphaned and take my work for their own use, I can not afford the legal fees to protect my copyright.

I demand that you to vote AGAINST the Orphan Works bill and protect my rights, my copyrights, to all that I have and will create.

Thank you.

Regards,

Helen M. Bascom,
Bascom Digital Art

REDBUBBLE DISCUSSION LINK

Create ART in your ANGST!

ACTION !!!
CONTINUING CREATIVE PROTESTS FOR TIBETAN LIBERATION DURING THE OLYMPICS IN BEIJING - 2008

Some of the recent contributions available at RedBubble.com, wear your conscience on your chest, let people know that YOU are in support of Human Rights in Tibet by creating a statement or buy one!



ACTION !!!
CHEMTRAILS


The discussion about the validity of chemtrails continues in the forums, contribute to the education, brought to you by trickyruby.


UNION ACTIVITY !!!

NEW AIMS NEW DIRECTION
To move this idea forward, it's gonna be necessary to streamline organisation and publishing HEAPS more. With a growing network, to reach as many people as possible, I am working as hard as time permits to grow the potential of the group and it's aims. That's why it was necessary to implement some new organisation and rules into the groups overview, please make sure that you take a close look at these documents, they affect every member of the group from here on in...
NEW! Overview - now provides clearer aims and an overview for the group
NEW! Mission Statement - linked in the forums from the overview page
NEW! Rules - necessary to cover our bases
NEW! Terms and Conditions - you agree when you click 'join', link from the Rules
NEW! Disclaimer - just some minor but important legal stuff, link from the Rules

ART ACTION UNION PROTEST PORTAL
An independent website is in production for the Art Action Union Group on RedBubble.com. It is intended to be a primary promotional point that allows more control and integration with activist artists and existing activist activities, I hope! More news about this as things develop.

NEW GOOGLE AUSTRALIA RANKING
Due to the mind-boggling wonders of key word search database technology, a little tweaking of the wording on a particular page and a little adage to the title and the Art Action Union Group now gets a number one rank on my Google Australia search when I type in ACTIVIST ART... perhaps a small and petty feat, but something to spur things on. Looking at the web in general, the concept we have going in partnership with RedBubble is quite unique I think. Ideas are welcome on how we can spread the word to like minded activist artists and thinkers, add any brain storms to the forums.

HELEN BASCOM ON BOARD AS HOSTESS
Read about Helen in "Current Issues Feature Artist - April 2008" a rich addition to the AAU plan, she is also the co-host of the Current Issues group and forms a great partnership with me. Honestly, she is one of the most passionate people I know!

I Would Die 4 U by Helen Bascom

ASPIRE TO INSPIRE!!!


kathleen

ACTION MAIL - MARCH/APRIL 2008

WHICH DO YOU FEEL MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT...

OR DO YOU CARE FOR ALL... THESE ISSUES ARE WIDESPREAD AND ACUTE...

BEIJING OLYMPICS PROTEST ABOUT THE TREATMENT AND CONTINUED OPPRESSION OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE.
(Initiated by Ross Robinson)

Add you voice to THIS PETITION
IT'S MASSIVE BUT NEEDS MORE AND MORE NAMES....

Express your feelings about how the Upcoming Olympics in Beijing is an insult to the Dali Lama and the the many Tibetans who are experiencing blatant oppression of their rite to belief and freedom! CREATE SOME ART THAT WE CAN EDUCATE AND CREATE AWARENESS AND UPLOAD IT NOW!!!


The Olympianks - tshirt on sale at www.redbubble.com

Please remember that the Olympic Rings are under strict copyright

Forum for this topic

SPIRITUAL FREEDOM

In compliment to the above mission, please consider adding to the Spiritual Freedom forum in the Practising the Dark Arts Group or the complimentary Action Union Forum for this topic.

You may also like to participate in the Group challenge-spirituality in another dimension in the Parallel Dimensions group.


CHEMTRAILS

TrickyRuby has suggested that we raise awareness about the lurking and hazy poisons and dangers surrounding Chemtrails from Aircraft if you know stuff about this and have opinions and knowledge to share please consider ACTION ADDING THEM TO THE FORUMS AND MAKE SOME PROTEST ART ...

ALSO IN THE FORUMS WE ARE GATHERING INFORMATION FOR FUTURE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS FOR:

BIO-FUELS - NOT SO GOOD

AND

CARBON TRADING

PLEASE ADD EDUCATION AND NEWS LINKS TO INFORMATIVE SITES AND OTHER ACTIVIST/PROTEST ART...

ADD ANY TOPICS YOU ARE CONCERNED WITH TO RAISE AWARENESS IN THE

CONCERNED PERSON'S REGISTER


ASPIRE TO INSPIRE
:-) kathleen

Action for Sorry...

CO-ORDINATED ACTION

The active and passionate artists at RedBubble have co-ordinated in the past to flood the site and their audience with social awareness.

Some outstanding examples are shown here.

Sorry Australia - 13th February 2008
Providing a voice for everyday Australians to Say Sorry to Indigenous Australia

Collective Collected Sorry's - a forum dedicated to National Sorry Day



Sorry by Helen McLean




SORRY - AT LAST by Melinda Kerr

Anti-Whaling Protest Art 2008

CO-ORDINATED ACTION

The active and passionate artists at RedBubble have co-ordinated in the past to flood the site and their audience with social awareness.

Some outstanding examples are shown here.

Action Whaling 08
In response to the Japanese Whaling Activities in the Southern Oceans


Save the Whales by tori r



Whale by Sam Mortimer


Written protests...

Senseless Slaughter by Darren Stones

Hope For Our Whales by Shayne 2011

THE BASICS OF ART FOR ACTIVISM AND CHANGE

THE BASICS OF ART FOR ACTIVISM AND CHANGE

COMMUNITY BASED ART

• Creative expression emerging from a NEED to collectively highlight and educate for social improvement.
• Involves many varied social contexts and definitions.
• Includes an understanding not only of geography but also history and tradition, ethnicity and dedication or belief in spirit.
• Includes topics/issues (but not limited to): racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism, classism, ableism and all forms of discrimination that create marginalisation in society.

COMMUNITY BASED ARTISTS

• Concerned with the functionality of art in public arenas including community development, corrections, education, intergenerational communications, aging, environment, conflict resolution, cultural citizenship etc.
• Work with all media, in all disciplines, everywhere.
• Committed to bringing arts and education to highlight and expose the widest possible range of social conditions and challenges facing our communities.
• Seek to create social change on every level of society, from the most ‘personal’ to the most ‘political’.

Activist Art for Leadership…
How do we practice it and what style does it inhibit? Is it catching?
WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT? A few thoughts…

• If you want to change things you do it with people not to people.
• Ongoing revolution.
• To service the greater good activist art (like all forms of expression) should be regarded according to review, peer assessment, research and budget in order to gauge it’s effectiveness in society.
• A crucial shift in thinking is to involve people for their abilities, what they can do, rather than build up an attitude that only aesthetic or technically sound work should be the focus or at the forefront of the revolution in an ideological sense.
• Artistic merit should be judged according to a clear communication of a relevant, centralised and communal message, no matter the art form or level of artistic development.
• Activist art is concerned with cultural and ideological democracy and the right of all to have access to services.
• Equal rights for one should not come at the cost of another’s rights.
• Activist art is concerned with promoting a community that encourages ideas and the community leaders who have the courage to put them forward.
• A community that takes pride in the way we treat and include those that need our help.
• Inclusion.
• Apart from enjoying the right to create art for its own sake, activists are often draw to art.
• Activist Artists are concerned with highlighting technocratic decision making processes… behind closed doors based on limited information and without initial intention to consult those whom the decision most affected.
• Rather than fearing our differences, we wish to be a people who celebrate it.

Recognising diversity can give birth to creativity as much as conflict.

YET… We do not seek to be a society that fears rigorous debate.

It is through the testing of ideas, through endless argument and negotiation that a community retains it’s vitality and survives.

Let our debates be based on mutual respect and the denial of violence.

Some examples of activist art:



Some examples of Activist Art in the Art Action Union Group Gallery at RedBubble.com:

ART ACTION UNION

ACTIVIST AND PROTEST ART ON REDBUBBLE.COM

Thought-provoking works of art and tshirts (photography will be considered on a case by case basis depending on the clarity of the message) that are activist-based and convey a MESSAGE about an important issue. It could be about (but not limited to) the erosion of civil liberties, global warming, degradation of democracy in your country or anything else that you feel passionately about.

This group is for ACTIVIST ART… photos of effigies, creative political statements, clear and bold, in your face statements providing social and or political critique and commentary.

Text and Symbolism is generally a strong indication of activist based art.

THE MESSAGE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ART IN THIS GROUP ART MUST CONVEY THE MESSAGE CLEARLY

IF I CAN’T TELL WHAT THE MESSAGE OR ISSUE IS AT A GLANCE, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT

When thinking about adding work to this group, think about protest marches and picket lines, think about how quickly those messages need to be displayed for coverage.