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The call for art for “Free Speech: Art and Activism,” on view through August 25 at the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society in Lexington, Massachusetts, invited artists who are “passionate about our National Dialog and create artwork that challenges norms, ignites conversation, and sheds light on diverse political narratives.”
Juror Chenoa Baker, a frequent Artscope Magazine contributor, made the selections and awarded prizes. She has worked with many major regional institutions, including the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. Of her own artistic passions, she writes that “Materiality, visual research and ecologies of kinship shape her work.”
In her statement about the exhibit as its juror, Baker wrote, “I love how craft is the media of dissent because it often goes under the radar in some circles but has a powerful impact.”
She awarded the following prizes:
Best in Show: Adrienne Sloane, “The Unraveling.”
Human Rights: Maria Cecilia Orozco, “Azul y Blanco: Colores para la Libertad.”
Immigration/Migration: Liliana Folta, “No Importa Donde Vayas, Recuerda de Donde Eres.”
Gun Violence: Peggie Bovier, “Jan 1 – July 4, 2001.”
A focal point of the exhibit is a massive hand knit generic statehouse sculpture, with knit gloves opening windows and doors created by the Knit Democracy Together Project founded by Eva Jacobs-Carnahan, and her collective. A former elections lawyer, her knitted sculpture, “Knit Democracy Together,” is the result of a knitting circle, or as she names them, “Modern Craftivist Assemblies,” which she finds essential to the grounding of art agendas.
On Sunday July 21, as part of the show’s opening weekend events, LexArt Director Mathew Siegal introduced a panel discussion with five of the exhibit artists, opening the talk with a question: “Is it the artist’s responsibility to dedicate their works to social justice, equity, drawing their subjects from the history they live in?” He stated that it is the responsibility of his, if not all art organizations, to do so.
Siegal stated that he believed “art communicates on a deeper level, and that successful work requires the viewer to complete it through engagement.”
He continued: “Arts Lexington is a modest community arts center; we feel it is our obligation to engage in non-threatening way. More people came in when setting up than after exhibit opens, and with this exhibit we heard a visitor say, “Thank God!” — glad you are doing this. Only one couple turned around and left.”
The opening reception panel was well attended and included Adrienne Sloane, who proposed the exhibit to Siegal a year ago. She noted the doors opened for the reception at 2 p.m. on July 20 only four minutes after President Biden posted on “X” that he was withdrawing from the 2024 election. She was right to imagine that 2024 would be a critical election year.
Other panelists included Archy LaSalle, a fine art photographer, who stated that the courage of convictions and actions and art activism add up to “Hope.” With his mixed ancestry, LaSalle takes an astronaut’s view of the earth through his work, showing that it is one place and one people, hoping that he helps others see it that way, too.
Adriana Prat, founder of @i3cartists and a scientist, environmental and climate crisis activist said, “The only way to inspire others is to be inspired” and that she founded a group to help her communicate her environmental justice message.
Liliana Folta, like Sloane, is from Argentina. Her work in the exhibition is a suitcase emblazoned with the slogan that is translated here into English: “No matter where you go, remember where you are from.” Folta stated that the most important thing to keep wherever we are is our freedom of speech.
Elizabeth Boskey, a women’s health educator, dedicates her art to the maintenance and stability of reproductive rights. She has a stained-glass work in the show titled, “Seeing Though the Abortion Debate.”
The fifth panel member, Thomas Moser, is exhibiting a carved marble fist, “Set in Stone,” a redux of the Black Power Fist. He carved it from white marble to reflect on environmental racism. He wants to encourage conversations on the issue with his art.
One of the most notable works in the show is Lisa Rosowsky’s “Bin There,” that includes two metal garbage bins with rhinestone covered rims placed on a gold fringe alter cloth with tassels. One bin is labeled “Thoughts,” the other, “Prayers.” This installation, which captures the hypocritical response to gun violence in schools, stores, concerts, synagogues and churches, is also the result of the artist’s deeply felt personal thoughts and prayers.
The entire Free Speech: Art and Activism” exhibit is an outpouring of concern using visual media to engage with visitors on many narratives.
(“Free Speech: Art and Activism” remains on view through August 25 at the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, 130 Waltham Street, Lexington, Massachusetts. The gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit lexart.org.)