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On the consequences of Hate Speech

This past year in politics and news has left many people feeling attacked, divided, and unsafe — south of the border, around the world, and at home.

This past year in politics and news has left many people feeling attacked, divided, and unsafe — south of the border, around the world, and at home. Words have always been a catalyst for civil discord, and today hate speech is increasingly prevalent, tearing apart the fabric of our communities in ever more violent and destructive ways. 

Seattle artists Nancy Current and Robin Atlas will be presenting On the Consequences of Hate Speech, a penetrating mixed media art exhibition that delves into hate speech, its historically destructive manifestations and the consequences for humanity. The exhibit also advocates the antidote: educating our children and our responsibility to condemn hate speech in any form. 

The opening reception and panel discussion will feature not only the artists, Nancy Current and Robin Atlas, but special guest social justice activist Minnijean Brown Trickey, a member of the Little Rock Nine, a group of young students who broke through segregation to attend High School in Arkansas in 1957.  

Brown is a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and has spent her life fighting for civil rights, including supporting the struggle of First Nations people, protesting to save the environment, and working towards equality for all. 

Robin Atlas's narrative entitled Lashon Hara (Hebrew for "evil speech") reflects her own personal experiences with hate speech as well as looking at the effects of hate speech in both the physical and spiritual realms. Her work features twenty de-constructed pieces of diverse elements coalesced on hand-dyed manipulated and collaged fabric, using methods such hand embroidery, free hand machine stitching, printmaking and other creative techniques.

L'Dor Vador ("from generation to generation" in Hebrew), Nancy Current's series of figurative glass paintings and prints, uses fragments of ancient writings as a metaphor for the education of children. The visceral attraction of light, color and glass combined with non-traditional glass painting and print-making conveys the responsibility of education and action to prevent hate speech and its consequences.

The artists will also be guiding a local school group  through the exploration of hate speech and its confrontation through print-making during two hands-on workshops, culminating in a take-home booklet of student works. 

We encourage all to take the opportunity to experience this timely and thought-provoking show. The exhibit will be on display from May 17-June 11, with gallery hours from 10am-5pm, open Wednesday to Sunday, at the Bowen Island Arts Council’s Gallery @ Artisan Square.