Labor Day with The Art of Revolution
Friday, September 2 6-9 PM
Old Fashioned Soap Box Speeches by Local Labor Leaders
The Raging Grannies and “Woody Guthrie” Singing Union Songs
Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery celebrates the Labor Day Holiday by honoring the Labor Movement through art, music and the Old Fashioned Soap Box speeches. There will be a Labor Day picnic spread of Hot Dogs, Corn on the Cob and lots of good cold drinks. Labor Day will take place on Friday, September 2nd from 6-9 PM at 605 Lake Avenue in downtown Lake Worth.
For centuries artists have played a roll in the shaping of social movements through their visual expressions of support or disdain. Who can forget the powerful Guernica by Pablo Picasso decrying the Spanish Civil War. The birth of the Labor Movement over 100 years ago brought with it the strong images of workers toiling in factories and the impoverished unemployed standing on bread lines or holding their starving babies.
Throughout the Clay Class Metal Stone Gallery will be works of art depicting the social struggles of today, each artist taking a personal stand on issues they support or do not.
During the Great Depression the Workers Project of America (WPA) put thousands of unemployed back to work building the infrastructure of this country. Among them were the artists who painted the huge public works murals that became the iconic reminders of the struggles of workers fighting for the rights of the middle class. Out of this period came the troubadours (also artists) who sang about the struggles. Woody Guthrie traveled the country rallying workers with the union songs he and his friends created. Rick Cohen, gallery artist and musician, will adopt the persona of Woody Guthrie performing union songs for all to sing along with. He will be joined by the Raging Grannies, a group of Minnie Pearl like seniors who will sing their hearts out for the crowd, not always in key, but with great enthusiasm.
Fiery local Labor Leaders from the Kravis Stagehands Union to the AFL-CIO to the Teachers Union, our Firefighters and Police Unions will take to the Soap Box to honor Labor on this their special day. Among those will be Jimmy Thompson- President IATSE local 500, Terry McKenzie-Political Action Committee-IATSE, Rodney Statham-Zone 4 Coordinator at Florida AFL CIO ,Jenny Kenny- Field organizer, Alliance for Retired Americans, Tony Fransetta- President of Florida Alliance for Retired Americans and Pat Emmert-Palm Beach-Treasure Coast AFL-CIO. Local teachers, firefighters, police and transport worker leaders have also been invited.
A Labor Day picnic with Hot Dogs, Corn on the Cob, Cole Slaw and lots of good desserts and cold drinks will be offered to all to attend.
Clay§Glass§Metal§Stone Cooperative Gallery is sponsored by the Flamingo Clay Studio, a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to provide affordable studio and gallery space for three-dimensional artists. The gallery is located at 605 Lake Avenue in downtown Lake Worth. Hours are Sunday thru Tuesday, 9AM-1PM. Wednesday thru Saturday, 9AM-9PM. Gallery openings are the first and third Friday of each month from 6-9 PM with many special events in-between. For information call 561-588-8344 or visit website Clayglassmetalstone.com.
Comments