Center for the Study of Political Graphics

CSPG was founded in 1989 by Carol Wells.{{cite web|last1=Heller|first1=Steven|title=Power to the Paper: An Interview with Carol Wells|url=http://www.hellerbooks.com/pdfs/voice_carol_wells.pdf|publisher=AIGA Journal of Design|accessdate=7 October 2016}} Wells has been involved in social justice since high school when she discovered the power of political graphics "when a UCLA professor hired her to travel to Nicaragua in 1981 to collect posters for him after the Sandinistas had come to power.{{cite web|title=Collectors in Conversation Continues with Social Justice Art Historian Carol A. Wells|url=http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/collectors-in-conversation-carol-a-wells-center-for-the-study-of-political-graphics-at-the-allendale-branch-library/|website=In Focus|publisher=Pasadena Now|accessdate=7 October 2016}} She has said, "I literally had that dismissive attitude toward a poster that, once I realized how important posters are, I resented in other people."{{cite web|title=Monomania L.A.: Carol Wells and the Politics of Postering|url=https://www.linktv.org/shows/artbound/monomania-la-carol-wells-and-the-politics-of-postering-0|website=Link TV|accessdate=7 October 2016}} She holds a B.A. in History and M.A. in Art History from UCLA. She taught history of art and architecture for thirteen years at California State University, Fullerton. She has also served as a mentor for the Creative Action program{{cite web|title=Creative Action: Political Graphics Archive|url=http://www.otis.edu/creative-action/spotlight/creative-action-political-graphics-archive|publisher=Otis College of Art and Design|accessdate=7 October 2016}} at Otis College of Art and Design teaching students about the power of art to make change.{{cite web|title=Gallery Guide|work=Otis College of Art and Design |url=https://www.otis.edu/ben-maltz-gallery/globalize-international-graphics-resistance|accessdate=7 October 2016}} Since 1981, Wells has been collecting posters internationally{{cite web|last1=Ochoa|first1=Laurie|title=She Saves Posters for Sake of History, Art|date=26 February 1988 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-26-ca-30407-story.html|publisher=L.A. Times|access-date=7 October 2016}} that advocate for civil rights.{{cite web|last1=Pool|first1=Bob|title=Protest Posters Find Asylum With Activist|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-05-me-6581-story.html|website=L.A. Times|date=5 June 2001 |access-date=7 October 2016}} She is an expert on political graphics and has published scores of articles and essays about political poster art. She has also organized over 100 poster exhibitions.

The CSPG archive currently contains more than 85,000 posters and has the largest collection of post-World War II social justice posters in the United States and the second largest in the world.{{cite web|last1=Sheff|first1=Harry|title=The Center for the Study of Political Graphics|url=http://www.utne.com/community/thecenterforthestudyofpoliticalgraphics|website=Utne Reader|accessdate=4 October 2016}} Media and techniques represented include offset, lithography, linocut, woodblock, silkscreen, stencil, and photocopy. All prints are catalogued to aid researchers. CSPG also loans out prints to other institutions for exhibit. Portions of the collection are available through the Online Archives of California, an initiative of the California Digital Library.{{cite web|title=Center for the Study of Political Graphics|url=http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8959k7m/|website=Online Archives of California}}

A major article in the LA Weekly in 2015 said: "Protest posters of every kind are preserved in the center's archives, along with thousands of bumper stickers and political buttons. Online, at politicalgraphics.org, the center features a poster of the week, such as one recognizing the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X."{{cite web|last1=Futch|first1=David|title=85,000 of the World's Angriest Political Posters Are Sitting in Culver City|url=http://www.laweekly.com/arts/85-000-of-the-worlds-angriest-political-posters-are-sitting-in-culver-city-5426721|website=L.A. Weekly|accessdate=1 October 2016}} CSPG founder Carol Wells was also interviewed on NPR's Morning Edition on Mar 13, 1996 about the "Decade of Protest" exhibition exhibit at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions.{{cite journal|last1=EDWARDS (Host)|first1=BOB|title=L.A. SHOW HANGS VIETNAMESE, U.S. AND CUBAN WAR POSTERS|journal=Accessed Through ProQuest.|date=Mar 13, 1996|issue=Morning Edition}}

CSPG depends upon the donation of posters to make this resource as representative as possible of the many historical and ongoing struggles. CSPG has also received grants from the Getty Trust,{{cite web|title=Artists, Institutions Receive Getty Trust Grants|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-19-ca-9441-story.html|website=L.A. Times|date=19 February 1999 |access-date=4 October 2016}} Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Department of Cultural Affairs (City of Los Angeles, David Geffen Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, among many others.{{cite web|title=Our Funders|url=http://www.politicalgraphics.org/funders|website=Center for the Study of Political Graphics|accessdate=4 October 2016}}

A fundraiser is held annually called "Celebrating the Art of Resistance." Three honors are awarded each year—Aris & Carolyn Anagnos Culture of Liberation Award, The Art as a Hammer Award, and The Historian of the Lions.

In the wake of the 2006 Great American Boycott, CSPG organized a labor-themed exhibition. In the last seventeen years, CSPG exhibitions has created toured exhibitions to more than 280 venues worldwide. They are mounted at various galleries institutions, and are accompanied by translations. Exhibition Guides are usually published and contain excellent scholarly writing on the subjects. CSPG’s traveling exhibitions (available for rental) are presented from a multi-issue and multicultural perspective, and tend to focus on current issues.{{cite web|title=The Art of Protest|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-05-14-ci-637-story.html|website=L.A. Times|date=14 May 1995 |access-date=4 October 2016}} For example, upon the death of Ronald Reagan, CSPG mounted an exhibition of anti-Reagan posters.

"Art Against Empire: Graphic Responses to U.S. Interventions Since World War II" was exhibited at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions in 2010.{{cite web|title=Political posters make bold statements|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-apr-14-la-et-posters-20100414-story.html|website=L.A. Times|date=14 April 2010 |access-date=4 October 2016}}

In 1994, "All Power to the People," showcased protest posters and graphics produced during the height of the Black Panther Party the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research.{{cite web|last1=Lavin|first1=Enrique|title=Community News: South-Central: Posters Trace History of Black Panthers|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-04-ci-4855-story.html|website=L.A. Times|date=4 December 1994 |access-date=7 October 2016}}

Other examples include "Too Hot To Handle Graphics on Global Warming, Pollution & Climate Justice. It was funded in part by the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and the California Arts Council.;{{cite web|title=Too Hot to Handle: Speaker Panel + Tour|url=https://www.evensi.us/too-hot-to-handle-speaker-panel-tour-mercado-la-paloma/179292412|website=evnsi|accessdate=7 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009212012/https://www.evensi.us/too-hot-to-handle-speaker-panel-tour-mercado-la-paloma/179292412|archive-date=9 October 2016|url-status=dead}} "Reclaiming the F-Word: Posters on International Feminism(s)";{{cite web|title=Exhibition Guide|url=http://www.politicalgraphics.org/reclaiming-the-f-word|publisher=Center for the Study of Political Graphics|accessdate=7 October 2016}}{{cite web|last1=YOON|first1=EDWARD M.|title=Exhibit Looks at Sexism, Homophobia|date=23 March 1998 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-23-me-31946-story.html|publisher=L.A. Times|access-date=7 October 2016}} and "Globalize THIS! International Graphics of Resistance!"{{cite web|title=Exhibition Guide|url=http://www.politicalgraphics.org/globalize-this|publisher=Center for the Study of Political Graphics|accessdate=7 October 2016}} Exhibition Guides are published and contain excellent scholarly writing on the subjects.

• Graphics
• Editorial cartoon

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.politicalgraphics.org Official site]
• [http://www.laloyolan.com/arts_and_entertainment/carol-wells-speaks-as-part-of-kaleidola-series/article_bcd3bd52-ad7c-11e3-9e3b-0017a43b2370.html "Carol Wells Speaks as Part of KaleidoLA Series"]

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Category:Political posters

Category:Archives in the United States

Category:Non-profit organizations based in California

Category:Arts organizations based in Los Angeles

Category:1989 establishments in California