This site is a static archive. Visit the current IWW website at iww.org ▸
Skip to main content

Expressing ‘isms’ - Local branch of Industrial Workers of the World shows their art

ART AND UNREST: OUT OF THE COFFEE SHOPS AND INTO THE STREETS Through Jan, Opening Thu, Jan 5, Remedy Café (8631-109 St), Info: www.edmonton.iww.ca

"It’s the first time we’ve ever done anything like this," confesses Desiree Schell of Edmonton’s branch of the Industrial Workers of the World. "It was originally just discussed over beer, as many good ideas are discussed–over beer. We thought an art show would be not only fun to do, but would also be an opportunity to demonstrate to people that the IWW is not only about being a union, but also is a vision for better world, a better community, and that includes exploring other methods of cultural expression. We have no idea where this may lead–we really have a desire to extend ourselves further into the community."

The venerable radical organization–the IWW as a global entity was founded in 1905 with the explicit mission of creating a world where bosses (also referred to on their website as "exploiters") don’t exist–has a long history of artistic, as well as political, agitation.

"People are used to seeing us on picket lines, joining striking workers in solidarity, as a large presence at protests, doing May Day parades. We do a lot of community organizing and stuff at the grassroots level," says Schell. "But the IWW also has an established tradition of supporting artists, like Joe Hill and the early Modernists."

Schell is quick to acknowledge that the show, provocatively titled Art and Unrest: Out of the Coffee Shops and Into the Streets, is not "overtly political." She clarifies, "The only thing linking the art is that all the artists are members of Edmonton’s IWW. We were all a little surprised, I think, at the amount of creative talent in our branch. As fellow members, we knew each other, but we didn’t know each other as artists. We have a lot of creative talent in our membership–writers, visual artists…" She laughs, "My particular creativity involves organizing people."

According to Schell, the show is an eclectic collection of work that ranges from figurative painting to mixed media collage to cityscape photos. "Kirsten McCrea, who is a ‘career’ artist, has her paintings downstairs at Remedy, and upstairs we have a variety of different artists. Some people who have had shows; some people who haven’t yet had that opportunity."

As could well be expected from an organization with a deeply socialist bent, Schell classifies Art and Unrest as "a group effort on our part. A bunch of us descended on Remedy to put up the show at 7:30 in the morning. The opening should be fun. We will be raffling off some of the pieces, with all proceeds going to the IWW. Plus there’s free food," she chuckles.

Schell notes that she and her comrades are also looking forward to extending peoples’ familiarity with the IWW. "We want to get the community to know us in a cultural context, as supporters of culture, as well as in a solidarity context. We want to do quite a few things in the next year that we’ve never done before–more workshops, more art shows. We’ve always been involved with the Anarchist Book Fair in the fall, but we want to do more. The IWW has its hand in so many things–we are not narrow group. And we welcome input, whether you’re a member or not. Tell us what you want us to do, and we’ll see what can happen."

CHRISTA O’KEEFE