THE MIRACLE OF TRANSFORMING HATE 

Photograph by Dan R. Talley

Transforming Hate: An Artist’s Book, was completed this year, eight years after it was started. We did not know if it was possible, but in March we pushed to get a few copies ready for an April PHOTO+CRAFT presentation. Entitled “Making and Meaning: Photobooks and the Social Fabric”, this Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center panel with Alejandro Cartagena, was one of thirteen events organized by Warren Wilson College here in Asheville.

The month before going to press, however, the Transforming Hate book design elements changed to include color and some unusual papers. This gave the book much more depth, but when the printing estimate increased by $10,000.00, my heart sank. Where was that amount of money going to come from? It had taken me a whole year to raise $7,000.00!

When I turned to my supporters and asked for additional money, 5 people donated the extra $10,000.00 needed, to put the book on the press, within 5 days. That was truly a miracle!

Me and Susan Rhew at Blue Ridge Printing

Susan explained the “whys and wherefores” as she proofed each page.

In addition to these angels, 60 people made donations to the project through NYFA’s Fiscal Sponsorship Program in 2013. It was their support and belief in the project that helped me continue working on the book. To you guys, a big “Thank You.” Your names are listed inside the book.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

“Hate is a fence built to signify time and place.

When I was growing up

schools,

churches,

hospitals,

libraries,

restaurants,

and movie theaters

were off limits to me because of my race.”

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Edition numbered signed copies of Transforming Hate: An Artist’s Book may be purchased for $50.00 from:
Vicky & Bill Stewart
Vamp & Tramp, Booksellers, LLC
E-mail : mail@vampandtramp.com 
Telephone : (205) 824-2300

Vamp & Tramp has placed the book in collections across the country.
Also available on Amazon.

The post The Miracle of Transforming Hate: An Artist’s Book appeared first on Clarissa Sligh.

It was not my first experience of artists organizing and using alternative means to communicate to the public, their issues and concerns – but this time many of the artists included did not make overtly political work and the range of participants included visual and performance artists, poets, filmmakers, curators, art critics and writers. Many collaborated to make work specifically for the events.

One of those activities, “La Verdadera Avenida de las Americas” took place on one of the coldest days of the month on the block where I lived at West Broadway between Houston and Prince.

These are some of the photographs that I took.

The Artists Call poster, designed by Claes Oldenburg, listed 1,087 participants: individual visual artists and collaborative teams, performance artists, poets, filmmakers, curators, art critics and writers;

and 80 events including 29 exhibitions, 20 film showings, 7 dance and performance festivals, 6 poetry brigades, 6 video and TV installations, 6 reading series, 2 street actions, 2 window installations, and 2 panel discussions.

Additional information about Artists Call Against Intervention in Central America may be found in the PAD/D (Political Art Documentation/Distribution) archive at the Museum of Modern Art:

http://www.moma.org/learn/resources/library/faq_library_collection#padd

To make a tax-deductible donation visit the link: Artspire Fundraising Page

The post 30 years ago – Artists Call Against Intervention in Central America appeared first on Clarissa Sligh.