As we begin to fully embrace the historic nature of THIS moment in our nation and our city, we want to build on the tradition of poster creation that has fed movements from Civil Rights to Climate Change, from Anti-War demonstrations to liberation efforts for Immigrants and Indigenous and Queer communities. The history of political posters is a rich one and whether plastered on brick walls, carried in marches, or distributed to storefronts, posters have informed process, incited change, motivated progress, and made visible the voice of the people.

We recognize that our city’s current change agents stand on the shoulders of giants, specifically those on the frontlines of the sit-in demonstrations that spurred the white-led violence of Ax Handle Saturday on August 27, 1960.  This poster campaign is a look at then and now… a recognition of the importance of the upcoming 60th anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday and its connections to racial justice efforts today.

The exhibition is a combination of works commissioned by Yellow House and an Open Call to the broader community.  As Yellow House is currently closed due to the pandemic, these works will live through not only this virtual exhibition, but also in the streets… during demonstrations, at the Ax Handle Saturday Commemoration in late August, and other guerrilla-style displays. And as soon as we are able to open, we will put them on the gallery walls.

Keion Davis
Keion Davis
KEION DAVIS
Stormy Kimman
Karen Kurycki
Heidi Lopez
Sean Kinberger
Kiara Amaris Sánchez
Michelle Pohnert
Sadie McLaughlin
Aysha Miskin and Hurley Winkler
Lisa Schweikert
Jen Arevalo
Jen Arevalo
Jen Arevalo
Natalie
Kendra Mills
Rain Henderson
Jordy Bowen
Randall Johnson
Brittany Norris
Hope McMath
Hope McMath
Erin Kendrick
Dominic Anthony
Dominic Anthony
Dominic Anthony
Moises Ramos
Moises Ramos
Moises Ramos
Deja Echols
Caryl Butterley
Jenny Hager
Michael Slayton
Michael Slayton
Michael Slayton
Sheila Goloborotko
Sheila Goloborotko
Sheila Goloborotko
Jared Allen
Dave Brown
Ryan May
Jason Tetlak
Keith Doles
Keith Doles
Keith Lowe
Vanessa B. Cruz
Ron Fish
Keion Davis
Keion Davis
Dave Begley

We are grateful to those closely engaged in the planning and curation of this project: designer CARYL BUTTERLEY; designer KAREN KURYCKI; artist, educator, and designer ERIN KENDRICK; Yellow House Fellow JORDYN BOWEN; Yellow House intern CORINNE LIGHTFOOT and executive volunteer PHYLLIS BELL-DAVIS; and, activist and hero RODNEY L. HURST SR.

Thank you for engaging in the collective work of Yellow House as we take this exhibition online during a time of physical distancing, anxiety, and dramatic change.  Our work lives at the intersection of art and community, centering the experiences and stories that help spur us into action to create a more just world. We believe this exhibition and the artists whose works are lifted up for all of us to see are relevant at this time.  It is our hope that you find empowerment in the truths shared here, hope in the resiliency expressed, and inspiration to be part of the change that we need.

Your contributions support our mission of connecting art and community to build understanding, inspire empathy, and spark civic engagement.

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Posters have been made available to download for use at protests, political actions, and educational purposes only. The individual artists retain the copyright to their artwork.