Inspiration
For Jobs and Freedom
On August 28, 1963, civil rights leaders, most notably Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” This event, which drew hundreds of thousands of supporters to DC was where the now historic “I have a Dream Speech” was delivered. While this is undeniably one of the most significant moments of the period, I had never thought of materials required to mobilize such a gathering might look like – now I know. I was shown some scans of an original program / portfolio which are an amazing resource for any activist, but particularly people interested in political art and the way art has been engaged in the service of movements and revolutions throughout history. I’ve seen lots of black and white photographs of posters, signs, banners and flags made for the march, but seeing this “collection of graphic collages… created specifically as a memento for those who participated in the historic March on Washington for Freedom and Jobs” is amazing. This booklet contained several collages which “depicts mans inhumanity, his cruelty to his fellow human being” and served as “a reminder of generations of generations of hope, of sacrifice and of faith.” It was made by the artist Louis Lo Monaco. I had not known about him before and while information is sparse, this is his best known work and can be found in the library of congress. The collages are gorgeous to me, using lavish amounts of black and limited splashes of red and blue in really elegant ways. At the same time, they combine powerful / striking and disturbing images in a way that forces you to confront the realities of the time – something I think all (good) artists do.