When We Fight We Win
Opening August 14th, 2020
When We Fight We Win
In the fall of 2019, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Local 73 (SEIU) banded together and marched in solidarity to demand justice for the students of Chicago Public Schools. Over 30,000 bodies flooded downtown, demanding restorative justice programs, nurses and librarians in every school, shared planning time, and equitable resources to be allocated across our city’s schools. This moment shed light on the depths of divestment from our students and working class families, delivering a historical win.
When We Fight We Win, is a sliver of collective movement building engaging art as an opportunity to educate, inspire, and heal. The show, therefore, serves as a site of reflection, recuperation, and strategizing in the midst of a global pandemic and national civil unrest.
In reflection, how do we pivot to center the voices of students and families most directly impacted by criminalization, police brutality, immigration policies, inequity in housing, healthcare, lack of access to food and other basic necessities? How can we use this living and breathing show as an opportunity to learn and imagine what’s next? Schools continuously find themselves as the centerpiece and heart of our communities. As such, it is our duty to continue to fight, and continue to win.
Curated by: Silvia Inés Gonzalez
Text edited by Niamh Burke
Wall Text Illustrated by: Shelby Rodeffer
Lucy Cotton
Sam Kirk
Jhoanna Maldonado
Sandro Murrillo
Grace Needlman
Grae Rosa
Lucila Saldaña Olazaba
Jesus El Maestro Sanchez
Aram Han Sifuentes
Nathaniel Tingley
Monica Trinidad
For the People Artists Collective
The Chicago ACT Collective
Special thanks to the Chicago Teachers Union, teachers, families, students and Art Build supporters.
On view August 16th to September 26th.
Opening
August 14th, 5-8pm
Open Hours
August 15th, 12-4pm. Mask are required to see the show. Please reach out to Carlos at carlos@chicagoartdepartment to make an appointment to see the show.
Programming will be scheduled by appointment as well as online between the opening on the 14th and September. Please follow @silvia.ines.gonzalez on instagram for updates