Branding is everywhere. We are constantly targeted by ads, pressured by peers, or seduced by influencers to have the right clothes, products, and lifestyles. Urban landscapes are visually overwhelmed with advertisements on billboards, buses, and benches. Ads are omnipresent on TV, in publications, and online. Even clothing uses logos as a fashion statement—and many pay extra for the privilege of being a walking advertisement.
This commercial overload offers opportunities for artistic dissent, and political artists take advantage of highly marketed advertising campaigns to focus on social problems. The image initially attracts the viewer because it appears familiar. But something isn’t quite right, provoking a second look.
Join us Thursday, June 12th 4-5:30pm for Not For Sale: Subverting Ads to Take Action a discussion between artists on subversive art for collective organizing. Panelists include SA Bachman of THINKAGAIN, Lalo Alcaraz, and Winston Tseng. Moderated by CSPG Archives Director Emily Sulzer.
