[Jura] Let the walls speak - poster exhibition

[specialannounce at jura.org.au]

Jura Books is co-presenting a very special event...

Let the Walls Speak!
Political Poster Exhibition

Picture this: a government smashing student unions, big business
crushing workers, police beating up anti-war protesters. But at the
same time people are fighting back: women marching against violence,
students shutting down uranium mines and Aborigines re-claiming
their land.

This isn’t just 2007, it’s 1997, 1987, and 1977. And at key moments,
art has played a crucial role in the struggle - illustrating and
inspiring the power of social movements.

In 2007 Jura Books turns 30, and this exhibition is part of
the celebration. For three decades Jura has been a base and an
expression of many campaigns and movements, and has been
collecting political posters. This exhibition is co-presented with the
University of Sydney Union, as part of the Verge arts festival.
It's happening over the APEC period - to bring art to the protest
and protest to the art gallery.

The poster collection was re-discovered a few years ago gathering dust
in the Jura Books library. This will be the first time they have been
exhibited outside of Jura. There are now over 3,000 in the collection,
from a diverse range of struggles ranging from early Aboriginal Land
Rights struggles, the feminist movement, the Green Bans, anti-uranium
mining, anti-Fraser and many many more. We’ll be showing a careful
selection of about 100 posters.

Some of the most stunning posters are from the radical artist
collectives which operated during the 1980s out of the (then squatted)
Sydney Uni Tin Sheds. Powerful, eloquent and moving, these full colour
posters use silk screening craft and artistic techniques unique to
Australia and which have rarely been used since.

The Jura collection contains many Earthworks pieces - the seminal
group of activist political artists in Sydney. There are also works
from Toby Zoates and other artist run collectives that grew from the
Earthworks experiment - Redback Graphix, Without Authority, Luifoil
and many others. Attached is an image to whet your appetite, or check
out our website for more.
www.jura.org.au

Not only are the subjects of the posters political, but the method
used to produce them was democratic and non-elitist – anyone could
produce a poster with a little training and a lot of passion and
dedication. The Earthworks Poster Collective would invite student and
community groups to use the facilities, and often shared their skills
with those who were just starting out using the silk screen processes.
There will be talks by some of the original artists on the opening  
night.

At the same time as APEC politicians discuss prolonging the war,
profiting from environmental devastation and silencing dissent, come
and feast your eyes on the alternative: art which demands action and
envisages a better world.

 >>When? 5th to 19th September. Opening night is on
Wednesday 5th September from 5pm, with talks by some of the
original Earthworks artists. Food and drinks available. After that the
exhibition will be open 10am till 4pm everyday except the
7th, 8th and 9th.
 >>Where? Sydney University Holme Building, the Bevery (on the
Parramatta Rd side of the campus). The building is accessible for
people who use wheelchairs.
 >>How much? Entry is free, although we are asking for donations
if you can afford it - to help maintain the posters for another 30  
years.

Jura Books
440 Parramatta Rd
Petersham
9550 9931
jura at jura.org.au
www.jura.org.au

Art for struggle! Struggle for art!



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