"Against Apathy", Project Space exhibition curated by Noah Breuer

Department of Art Assistant Professor and Head of the Print Media Area, Noah Breuer, has curated a group exhibition of printed art on the subject of political participation.

In the Department of Art Project Space

Center For the Arts, Room 155

On View: Oct 28 - Nov 7, 2024

Reception: 10/29, 5-7:30pm, during Art in the Open

Zoom image: "Against Apathy" exhibition poster, curated by Noah Breuer. "Against Apathy" exhibition poster, curated by Noah Breuer.

Curatorial Statement, from Assistant Professor and Head of Print Media, Noah Breuer:

As a pivotal national election approaches, far too many Americans will meet this moment with general indifference. Against Apathy invites viewers to engage with the transformative power of art and seeks to instill a sense of urgency and responsibility in gallery attendees. The exhibition features a dynamic collection of screenprints, risographs and relief prints crafted on a broad array of paper and fabric. In these printed works, nineteen artists from eleven states, collectively reference the rich visual history of agitprop, protest movements, and activist printmaking, and challenge viewers to confront their own complacency and embrace their political agency.

The show features a 15-person exchange portfolio entitled, “Banner Flags of Resistance and Revolution” which was originally conceived during the runup to the 2020 presidential election and whose themes remain highly relevant four years later. Also included are new woodcuts by David Barthold, a screenprint by University at Buffalo alumnus, Shirley Bassarath and a risograph by Tonja Torgenson and Christa Carleton from their collaborative, print series “Body Politic.” Finally, while the American zeitgeist is a cultural climate of hyper-polarized partisan conflict, Leslie Friedman offers an installation of printed, pennant-style flags which both celebrate our differences and focus on, inclusivity, self-care and friendship.

Participants:

Name, (Location), @Instagram Handle

Mika Aono (Eugene, OR) @mika.aono

Atlan Arceo-Witzl (Chicago, IL) @atlanaw

David Barthold (Brooklyn, NY) @davidfbarthold

Shirley Bassarath (Buffalo, NY) @photpgraphybyshirley

Noah Breuer (Buffalo, NY) @noahbreuer

Ethan Brown (Chicago, IL) @ohh___okayy

Christa Carleton (Missoula, MT) @chrstalynn

Zach Clark (Oakland, CA) @zachclarkis

Grayson Cox (Cragsmoor, NY) @graysoncoxstudio

Leslie Diuguid (Brooklyn, NY) @little_mouse_diuguid

Leslie Friedman (Philadephia, PA) @lesliepvd

Todd Irwin (Chicago, IL) @iprintfakeshit

Hedya Klein (Middleburry, VT) @hedyaklein

Dutes Miller (Chicago, IL) @dutesmiller

Ashlee Mays (Knoxville, TN) @museum_of_infinite_outcomes

Kyle Peets (Walla Walla, WA) @kyle.peets

Sarah Smelser (Normal, IL) @sarahsmelsermakesart

Tonja Torgerson (Bloomington, IN) @tonja_torgerson

Syd Webb (Argyle, TX) @4acrepress

Exhibition Images

Zoom image: A man wearing a sweatshirt and hat looking at a wall in an art gallery, with penant political posters hanging in the background. A man wearing a sweatshirt and hat looking at a wall in an art gallery, with penant political posters hanging in the background.
Zoom image: A group of people talking in front of a wall of felt penant flag artworks. A group of people talking in front of a wall of felt penant flag artworks.
Zoom image: Woodcuts (of Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and young Kamala Harris), designed by David Barthold, printed in the Department of Art at the University at Buffalo. Woodcut prints of political figures including Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, and young Kamala Harris, hung in the panes of an indoor art gallery window wall.

Woodcuts (of Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and young Kamala Harris), designed by David Barthold, printed in the Department of Art at the University at Buffalo. 

Zoom image: Pennant flags by Leslie Friedman Pennant flags by Leslie Friedman.

Pennant flags by Leslie Friedman

Zoom image: A man in blue button up shirt holding a political cartoon woodcut print of Ted Criz's face. A man in blue button up shirt holding a political cartoon woodcut print of Ted Criz's face.
Zoom image: "Banner Flags of Resistance and Revolution", print exchange informational poster and portfolio box, with a booklet of the artwork series description hooked on the wall below. "Banner Flags of Resistance and Revolution", print exchange informational poster and portfolio box, with a booklet of the artwork series description hooked on the wall below.
Zoom image: "Banner Flags of Resistance and Revolution", print exchange informational poster. "Banner Flags of Resistance and Revolution", print exchange informational poster.
Zoom image: "Banner Flags of Resistance and Revolution", print exchange portfolio box. "Banner Flags of Resistance and Revolution", print exchange portfolio box.
Zoom image: "Banner Flags of Resistance and Revolution", print exchange portfolio, flag by Noah Breuer. "Banner Flags of Resistance and Revolution", print exchange portfolio, flag by Noah Breuer.

"Banner Flags of Resistance and Revolution", print exchange portfolio, flag by Noah Breuer.

Zoom image: "Vote" print by Shirley Bassarath, Department of Art BFA Alumnus, 2024. "Vote" print by Shirley Bassarath, Department of Art BFA Alumnus, 2024.

"Vote" print by Shirley Bassarath, Department of Art BFA Alumnus, 2024.