The Art for Social Justice Project originated with the leadership component of the arts-based suicide prevention program, Arts in Recovery for Youth (AIRY) in Western Massachusetts. Several young adults in the AIRY program independently gathered for three months to work in the studio, plan and execute an art show around themes of racial injustice and oppression, violence against women, bullying, stigma, rights of LGBTQ+ persons, gender expression, body image and gender equality. They were mentored by six guest artists who shared their experiences about social activism in the art world.
Works by artists Rachael Bentz, Kiara Bresett, Jack Kelly and Jalencia Melendez include painting, poetry and digital art. Works by mentoring guest artists include Pops Peterson, creator of the Reinventing Rockwell series at Norman Rockwell Museum which reinterpreted the Four Freedoms; Katy Holt, art educator and creator of the Wifebot art zine which explored gender role expectations of women; Em Reim Ifrach, art therpaist and social activist who painted the portraits of four BIPOC transgender people who died by murder; Caroline Kelley, feminist arts activist "Future Foward"; and art therapist Marney Schorr who depicts stigma in her "dis-ability" assemblage and hopscotch floor mat. For more info about AIRY and the Art for Social Justice Project, please visit: www.airyedu.com/young-emerging-artists-program.
AIRY artists have also been invited to participate in a virtual guest artist panel with Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles on Saturday June 5th at 12 pm EST, as part of the Art Therapy Symposium's showcase 20/20 in Hindsight: A Year of Coping, Confronting, and Creating Change. Please visit: www.ATgallery.art.
The show will also be featured virtually with MCLA Gallery 51 from June 6, 2021 - August 1, 2021. Visit: https://www.mcla.edu/.../mcla-gallery-51upcoming-shows.php
Funding for the Art for Social Justice project was provided by New England Grassroots Environment Fund Young Leaders Grant and the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Bridging Divides, Healing Communities Grant