A friend left a book called Guerilla Art Kit in our office the other day. In it, the author quotes Henry David Thoreau:
It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look. To affect the quality of the day–that is the highest of arts.
Around the same time, I read about First Things First Manifesto in an old issue of Kohkoku. February issue of print magazine had a feature on graphic design that “inform, incite and inspire.” I saw some posters designed by graphic artists in Cuba, at a local cafe where people showed slides from their trip to“Seattle Havana Poster Show”.
“Design is a social/political act” I read something to this effect somewhere, some time ago. I think an architect said something similar during the “Art and Development” talk at City Hall, too.
The growing discontent with the political climate and anxiety about our environment and future are pushing us all to think about our responsibility as creatives, again. There certainly seems to be a convergence of thoughts and movements that’s maybe similar to what happened in the 19th century England, in mid-20th century Europe and in the 60’s America.
I don’t have any answers, but asking questions and keeping a curious eye on happening around us is one way we try to stay “connected,” whether on- or off-line. We will keep you posted on further findings here. —AM
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