Alabama Contemporary Art Center: A Different Kind of Weapon
Date/Time
Date(s) - September 11, 2020 - November 15, 2020
All Day
Location
Alabama Contemporary Art Center
Categories
In our current moment the lines between art and advocacy have started to blur. Although artists have always addressed political and human rights concerns, the current era of activism is tipping the scale and gravity of cultural production. Questions of how the art is used to affect public opinion and sway others to a cause are being asked worldwide. Why do artists choose to make work that confront problems in the world? Why would they decide to advocate?
A Different Kind of Weapon includes a group of artists who make work in a variety of media—from cast metal to projected video—in order to advocate for different human rights/social justice causes or issues. Incorporating contributions from both emerging and well-established artists, this exhibition traces the trajectory of art as advocacy through different styles and methods over time. The binding thread is that all of these artists use their skills and voices to weigh in on some of the most polarizing topics of our era. Art examining race, healthcare, education, disability, LGBTQ rights, Women’s rights, environmental concerns and gun control invite dialog on how each of these topics affects our daily lives.
A Different Kind of Weapon is part of the Guest Curator Program at Alabama Contemporary Art Center. Accompanying lectures, performances and film programming are scheduled and will occur monthly during the run of the show.