WHAT IS ACTIVIST ART ?
That is a loaded question. What is protest art? What is political art? What is propaganda art? And...some say that all art is activist art.
The Tate Organization (of Tate Art Museum fame) explains that "Activist Art is a term used to describe art that is grounded in the act of ‘doing’ and addresses political or social issues." Referring to the words from this reputable source, ArtistsAsActivists subscribes to this definition.
ArtistsAsActivists
Angela Davis in speaking about freedom in the world "...I have always discovered that it is artists who guide us into arenas that we have not necessarily known before."
And the goal of Gutfreund Cornett Art (an independent curatorial partnership) "is to change the world through art - specializing in creating exhibitions on themes of 'art as activism' to stimulate dialogue, raise consciousness and encourage social change."
Big words and a big mission. But maybe, just maybe, not so big as to stop artists with passion and purpose to tackle and meet head-on...