Organizing the Ideal: Contemporary Collectives and Cooperatives

University Art Museum (UAM) in collaboration with the Center for the Study of Political Graphics (CSPG), will mount Peace Press Graphics 1967–1987: Art in the Pursuit of Social Change, a survey of the press' work and their connections to artist collectives of the time.

Founded in 1967 by a unique group of L.A. activist-artists who created an "alternate everything" printing and publishing business, the Peace Press (1967-1987) emerged from the tangle of progressive political and alternative groups that flourished during the decades between 1960 and 1990.

One of the pivotal aspects of Peace Press’ success was its dedication to consensus decision-making. By implementing worker control through all aspects of production, the collective successfully merged the ideal with the practical, creating a non-hierarchical space benefiting those who made contributions. This panel presents contemporary collectives and cooperatives that continue to offer an alternative to capitalist-related models. Members of decentralized collectives and cooperatives explain how production can be based on mutual aid rather than merely profit.

Speakers:
Favianna Rodriguez (Justseeds Cooperative – a worker-owned printing cooperative that produces political art through a decentralized network of artists across Mexico, the United States and Canada)
Zach Blue (AK Press – an anarchist publication press that releases radical literature, art prints and multimedia materials)
Brent Aragon (Blood-Orange Info Shop – an anarchist information center dedicated to community outreach, education, and art)

For more information, please visit www.csulb.edu/uam or call (562) 985-5761 or e-mail us at [email protected].