Re: Working class artists

[Michael Yates <mikey+@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Friends,

We had a labor affair here in Pittsburgh last week.  Paul Le Blanc and I
helped to organize it, though most of the leg work was done by the
Thomas Merton Center, a lcoal peace activist organization.  Our featured
speaker was Bill Fletcher, former education director of the AFL-CIO and
now special assistant to AFL-CIO president John Sweeney. Bill is a great
guy and he gave a sharp speech; if the labor movement had 100s (or even
scores) of persons like him we'd be in a lot better shape).  Also
speaking were Paul, myself, Fernando Gapasin (another remarkable leftist
in the labor movement; he spoke eloquently about the importance of
organizing immigrant workers)and artist Mike Alewitz.  I can say that
Mike's speech was very strong.  He defended the rights of artists (in
context om NYC's Mussolini, Mayor Guiliani's attempt to suppress the
Brooklyn Museum's new exhibit) and spoke powerfully on behalf of Mumia
(he called the governor of PA-Tom Ridge-a murderer).  Importantly he
said that these issues were working class issues.  I could not agree
more.  Mike brought a lot of art with him, very exceptional and moving
stuff.

michael yates

Louis Proyect wrote:
>
> I want to urge New Yorkers on the list to check out a left-wing art show at
> the Puffin Gallery on 435 Broome Street.
>
> One of the artists is list member Mike Alewitz, who is one of America's
> most respected muralists. There are a number of photographic reproductions
> of his work on display, including a wonderful "Unionism without Borders"
> that he has agreed to let us use for the home page of the revamped Marxism
> list web currently under construction.
snip