Voices carry: “Framing a Fair Iowa” art show 

AJ Jones is a writer and creator of art, expressing herself across different mediums. She embraces her neurodivergence as a unique way to view the world in hopes of creating a better future.

“Useful art is about transforming people’s lives, even on a small scale. It is art as activism and activism as art.”

Tania Bruguera, Tate Exchange Lead Artist, 2018–2019 

Voices. How they slide into the ear. How they penetrate with inflection and tone, easing inside thoughts with gravelly, sparkling vibrancy. All too soon, we must leave a conversation. The words become jumbled as other facets of life set in and conversations are replayed as ideas swap and manifest in solitude. Sometimes those exchanged voices rest within, waiting to emerge. Some ideas don’t adhere, while others resonate through one’s soul.

One finds they are not alone in ideas, ideals, and values. It is difficult to keep these conversations fresh, much less vital, in our minds as we deal with the everyday needs that keep us moving from task to task, place to place, bombarded by advertising, social media, care for others, care for ourselves.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if there were a place where people could gather together, share ideas, and, if possible, leave their voice to be reflected upon later in a way that allows for expression and manifestation. A place that allowed bringing the intangible into the visible reality of space, time, energy, and matter?

HAVEN FOR PROGRESSIVE IDEAS

Such a place exists in central Iowa. More than 50 people came together to fashion it through the Fairness for Iowa coalition, organized by Jen Sinkler of Progress Iowa, with prevalent themes of community, conversation, and the coalescence of ideas, of movement, with a better future in mind locally; rippling outwards nationally and even globally in scope. Social Security to climate change. SNAP Benefits to LBGTQ+ rights. Reproductive freedom to gas prices. Book banning to the stewardship of air, soil and water. A place where progressive ideas can congregate.

Cut to opening night of the “Framing a Fair Iowa” art show on August 2 at the RAYGUN store in Des Moines— the second level of the iconic t-shirt store includes gallery space. Panels and walls are covered with artful expression from dozens of artists, created over nine months with one overarching theme: fairness for the people of Iowa. The art show gave others a chance to reflect on the voices perhaps unheard individually, but which spoke volumes collectively through artwork, one piece at one time forming one unified response that echoed upon the eyes.  

As people filed through opening night a postcard making station encouraged participants to become artists themselves, if they wished. [Photo credit: Erin Hawkins]

The results equaled a spectacular array of collages, paintings and posters. If you missed opening night or would like to revisit the show, the artwork will remain on display through Thursday, August 22. If you are in Des Moines, swing by RAYGUN, located at 505 E Grand Ave. 

Creative director Jen Sinkler walks Jim and Sue Heemstra through the artworks of mutual friend Kevin Marken. [Photo credit: Eris Hawkins (www.instagram.com/lionheartclubhousecreatives)]

The beginnings of the show can be traced back to Progress Iowa’s first Art Jam, which occurred just days after Election Day last year. Many were energized to make their voices heard in a new and unique way.

Progress Iowa’s office suite was filled with people from down the street and counties away. A steady buzz of conversations flowed as issues and ideas connected people through shared experiences. A safe haven for progressive perspectives in a state where government has become more restrictive. People moved in and out of conversations to create as viewpoints took on color and texture. 

“When I was working on this piece, the town where I lived had been having a library controversy…some of us fought to keep the library free from political control. Books, it seems to me, are an entry into all kinds of worlds and being open to all kinds of worlds is what keeps us open to life,” said art maker Sophie Mathonnet-Vanderwell. “It felt freeing to be able to express myself and hear others express themselves without wondering if you were going to get the side-eye! We could joke and speak openly about issues or concerns that were on our hearts.” She went on to explain that in smaller communities, “there were many spaces where that couldn’t happen. Only among close friends.” She finished by saying that she “wanted to meet other progressive Iowans.” Note: The people of Pella showed up and the library remains free from political control. [Photo credit: Eris Hawkins]

A couple of months later, in January, artist, activist, and organizer Julie Russell-Steuart brought her Provisional Press to Progress Iowa to teach a protest-poster-making workshop. Locals, as well as people who drove from hours away, made their own posters on Julie’s press. The process of ink pressed onto paper released pent-up frustration with those entrusted, by vote, to care for the people’s interests over corporate greed; a cathartic action. It wasn’t a comment on any official’s humanness, but rather their humaneness.

Artist Julie Russell-Steuart stands between panels of work mainly featuring works that encourage U.S. Representative Zach Nunn to vote more in line with constituents over corporate interests. A number of works were created in Russell-Steuart’s protest-poster-making workshop by artists Jeannie McCrea, Mike Gass, Jerry Uhlman, Maggie Rawland, Kevin Marken, Lucretia Caplan, Janeice Murra, and author AJ Jones. [Photo credit: Jerry Uhlman]

Art has many avenues of expression. Recently, Iowa Jazz, Blues, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician, songwriter, and educator Dartanyan Brown taught a protest songwriting Art Jam. Under Brown‘s guidance, groups formed and are writing their own protest songs focusing on accountability of elected officials and progressive ideas concerning the freedoms being taken from us, seemingly daily, by the same officials elected to protect. 

Progress Iowa offers Art Jams every other Friday afternoon and evening to create not just art, but to continue the conversation and creation of messages around specific issues Iowans hold dear. And, to exchange information with the goal of holding elected officials accountable for their campaign promises versus how they were voting. Many of these issues favor corporations over constituents. It seems apparent, given the state of politics and policies, that holding Iowa leaders accountable will be our never-ending task. 

While most will say they are not artists, possessing little or no artistic background, they find the Art Jams a safe place for dialogue and an outlet for expressing dissatisfaction with today’s political climate, along with envisioning a new future. A common theme is agreement that corporate dollars need to be removed from politics. 

OUR VOICES AND ART ARE POLITICAL CURRENCY

It is our duty to hold elected officials accountable and stay plugged in—not only in election years, but also throughout terms, to keep lawmakers aligned with the needs of the people. From the time they are sworn in to each vote they cast, it is important they know the interests of the people are being served. Art Jams are one vehicle to keep the conversation going, influencing actions with our collective voices in much the same way corporations influence with money.

Case in point is U.S. Representative Zach Nunn of Iowa’s third Congressional district. His voting record reflects giving Big Oil billions in tax breaks; siding with Big Pharma against lowering drug prices; and siding with Big Ag to the detriment of family farms, resulting in a rise in grocery costs; not to mention environmental issues that will be a burden on taxpayers and that endanger a livable future. 

Nunn didn’t cast these votes for the economic good of his constituents. To be sure, he didn’t run on the campaign promise of enriching corporate donors and bankrupting his voters. But Nunn belongs to the Republican Study Committee, which has proposed budgets that would raise the Social Security retirement age and jeopardize Medicare benefits.

Both ideas would create more financial distress for the everyday person. People have paid into these benefits for the entirety of their working lives as part of a contract with the government that Social Security and Medicare would be there when needed. For many, this is their only safety net.

“I think if you dig down to most of our problems it comes to money in politics,” said Lincoln Addis, who made the work “Get Money Out of Politics.” “It has gotten to the point where billionaires and big business have captured our politicians and that is, essentially, who they work for.” [Photo credit: Eris Hawkins]    

“Last year, Governor Reynolds and her regime turned down federal funds to ensure kids get to eat over the summer,” said Parker Williamson, who has five pieces of work on display. “Republican legislators have made SNAP harder to obtain in Iowa while boasting of a billion dollar surplus in our budget. One in three children in this country are food insecure. Why are people in the U.S. hungry in 2024?” [Photo credit: Eris Hawkins]

“I was thinking about how I would like more equality and fairness in our economic systems, our justice system, and all government systems,” said art maker Polly Phillips Antonelli. “Zach Nunn has lied to my face about Chapter 20 [on taking away Iowa public employees’ collective bargaining rights] and how he was going to vote in the Iowa House, and then lied about that lie at a legislative forum. That hurt lots of teachers and friends, and I was a substitute teacher at the time.” [Photo credit: Eris Hawkins]

This TikTok video from Lori VanLo (@itsme_lojo), sums it up in an inspiring, uplifting post: “If you feel like you’re trying to change the direction you’re going in your life, or maybe your values or your politics have changed a lot, it just takes time, but keep doing work and keep going out into the world. You’ll find your people.” She uses her voice, in her way, to bring us together. Because our voices carry. 

If you would like to add your voice to a chorus for our freedoms, email Jen@ProgressIowa.org to get involved.