Have you ever participated in a rally, march, or protest, and took a moment to appreciate someone's sign? Even if you haven't, the internets are full of posts that often grab the wittiest sayings on those signs, but not nearly enough of them highlight the really impressive art and design work that goes into making signs, costumes, props, and other creative ways to raise awareness of important issues.
To remedy that a little, let's take a look and appreciate the artwork, or "artivism", of activists in the Rio Grande Valley, who are facing two major intrusions into their communities: the proposal to build three fracked gas terminals (LNG) and associated pipelines, and the racist border wall.
Many of these artistic visuals were creating by people coming together and hosting art builds! Art builds are hangouts where people can collaborate and collectively develop messages for banners and signs, design graphics, and set-up art stations with tools to create artistic visuals for demonstrations, rallies, marches, protests, and more. Art builds are typically hosted in warehouses, garages, backyards, driveways, or really anywhere with a flat surface that will allow art projects. And you don't have to be an artist to create beautiful and meaningful art pieces that tell the story of resistance.
There are so many images and videos we could share, we have to break this up into at least two blog posts. This first one focuses on LNG/fracked gas.
Let's start with the staples of demonstrations: signs and banners!
Creative ways to raise awareness don't limit themselves just to paper or canvas.
Some use what nature provides.
While some stimulate other senses.
And some are in a category by themselves.
We hope you've enjoyed this all-to-brief glimpse into the creativity at work in the Valley as the people organize and raise awareness.
In our next installment, we look at the art of the border wall resistance in the Rio Grande Valley. Until then, please share this with others and if you see a great work of art in service to these movements, please send it our way! We'd love to promote it.
Special thanks to the artists who created these awesome pieces, including (but not limited to): Nansi Guevara, Scott Nicol, Bekah Hinojosa, Lucinda Wierenga, Jim Chapman, Stefanie Herweck, Mary Helen Flores, Armani Villarreal, Joyce Hamilton, Josette Cruz, Alessandria Fernandez, Bill Berg, Laurel Steinberg, and so many others.
Also, special thanks to Save RGV from LNG and Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas!
