Saturday, January 16, 2021 – 10am – 1pm
Virtual Program + Exclusive Q&A
Reservations for the Symposium are closed. You can watch the program live here or if you are having problems, you can watch it on the Museum’s YouTube Channel.
Panel 1. DIY Print Culture and Citizenship
- Chair: Ryan Standfest, Publisher of Rotland Press
- Panelists: Illustrators Sue Coe; Christopher Sperandio, Robert Sikoryak
Reflecting upon Norman Rockwell’s representation of “the ideal” of freedom in his interpretation of Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms, this panel will delve into a nuanced and contemporary grappling with the “less than ideal”—when visual satire is often summoned and the depiction of villainy is necessitated. Within DIY print culture, the artist/citizen introduces such visual political work into the greater culture with a minimum of means, without relying upon a mainstream system of distribution: cheaply produced pamphlets, affordable prints, and the use of social media platforms. For such artists, the question of audience engagement is crucial: how to responsibly affect a culture of political ideas from a place of independent agency.
Panel 2. Resistance and Mainstream Publishing: Media, Delivery, and Propaganda
- Chairs: D.B. Dowd, Director, D.B. Dowd Modern Graphic History Library at Washington University in St. Louis; Stephanie Haboush Plunkett, Deputy Director/Chief Curator, Norman Rockwell Museum
- Panelists: Illustrators Nora Krug, Anita Kunz, and Rudy Gutierrez
Our publishing ecosystem is in need of attention, as local journalism falters, media consolidation intensifies, and social media contribute to the spread of disinformation, collectively undermining the factual bases upon which argument depends. The veracity of online outlets can be hard to establish; the cultural filtration systems we rely on to evaluate sources will develop, but they will take time. For now, existing publications and institutions must step in to underscore and support our shared democratic values. Freedom of expression for artists working within mainstream publishing will be explored.
About the Symposium:
For designers, cartoonists, and illustrators, many questions arise when creating art that takes up socially significant, sometimes controversial themes. Some choose the D.I.Y. route, working independently with a free hand, without access to the large scale distribution that comes with a recognizable masthead. Others work with leading news organizations and magazines, agreeing to collaborate in exchange for access to audiences. Popular art has always involved such choices. What are the tradeoffs? What are the rewards?
This program is supported in part by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
Media Sponsor:
This timely symposium will explore historical and contemporary notions of freedom as well as the role of illustration as a force in shaping public perception. How has published imagery affected decision-making, public policy, and cultural understanding? Prominent authors, illustrators, and scholars will offer perspectives. Share your observations by participating in all or some of these compelling conversations.
About Reservations:
We are offering an opportunity to watch these programs on Zoom with access to an exclusive Q&A with the panelists. This opportunity is FREE for NRM Members and Pay What You Choose for Non-Members. If you would like to opt-out of the exclusive Q&A, the program will stream for free on the Museum’s YouTube channel.
The Zoom link, with instructions, will be emailed to participants approximately 4 hours prior to each program.