Workforce Development Institute

96 South Swan Street | Albany, NY 12210 | Tel: 518 . 463 . 2141

Graphic Work: Imaging Today’s Labor Movement

The American labor movement has an amazing history of graphic production, creating some of the most effective political images in the history of this country. However, work and workers, along with the labor movement, are often depicted as experiences of the American past: paintings of Joe Hill, photographs from the early1900s of children working in factories, historic strikes and Rosie the Riveter. Today’s workforce looks dramatically different from the majority of images used to depict labor. To address this issue we asked innovative artists to create posters that depict contemporary jobs, the people that do them and the issues workers now face.

What we found was startling. Most young politically engaged people don’t realize the American labor movement still exists and, if they do, they have little or no relationship to it. We found that now, more than ever, it is important to create new images of labor.

Graphic Work: Imaging Today’s Labor Movement is an exhibit of thirty eight new poster designs curated by Josh MacPhee and Zoeann Murphy. It is sponsored by the Workforce Development Institute, Bread and Roses Cultural Project of ll99SEIU, and JustSeeds.org. The posters comprise a beautiful beginning to a new wave of labor art.

The journey toward justice and true democracy is eased when those who are struggling become visible.

We invite you to participate in the dialogue about today’s workers and the issues they face by displaying Graphic Work posters in public spaces. There are six winning 19”x25” posters available free of charge, as well as the opportunity to host a month-long exhibit of all 38 pieces. Please contact Erin Shannon for free posters and information on organizing an exhibit.