Episode 49 – Art Workers’ Inquiry
Hey folks! Ding dong Kanders is dead (if only), we catch up on the news we missed, and finally dig into Red Bloom Collective’s Art Workers’ Inquiry. It’s a super robust survey, we encourage everyone to take it themselves here. We didn’t end up having time to complete the second part of the inquiry, but we hope to finish it up soon (perhaps with some of the folks who created it). In the meantime check out our bonus episode where we do a quiz to see if we’re related to aliens. If you like the podcast and want more, please consider supporting us: https://www.patreon.com/artandlabor (if you support us on drip, please switch over). Follow us on twitter and instagram. You can contact Art & Labor at artandlaborpodcast@gmail.com
Episode 48 – Unions Rule, New York Times Drools
So beautiful to see artworkers on the cover of the paper of record! Too bad NYT whiffs it so hard—for an article about worker struggle they sure showcase a lot of bosses. We discuss how the media frames systemic issues in defeatist or individualist terms, we push against the scarcity mindset, encourage more decentralized actions, and urge everyone to demand public museum ownership. This is the episode for our takes on “The Tear Gas Biennial,” and it’s complicated! PS the new Lion King is just The Veldt come true. If you like the podcast and want more, please consider supporting us: https://www.patreon.com/artandlabor (if you support us on drip, please switch over). Follow us on twitter and instagram. You can contact Art & Labor at artandlaborpodcast@gmail.com
Inside Hushed Museum Hallways, a Rumble Over Pay Grows Louder (horrible title): https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/22/arts/museum-pay-unions.html
Artists who have pulled from Whitney: http://www.artnews.com/2019/07/19/whitney-biennial-artists-kanders-removal/
Artists who have decided to stay in: http://www.artnews.com/2019/07/23/whitney-biennial-artist-removals/
The Tear Gas Biennial: https://www.artforum.com/slant/hannah-black-ciaran-finlayson-and-tobi-haslett-on-the-2019-whitney-biennial-80328
On Willem Van Spronsen: https://itsgoingdown.org/on-williem-van-spronsen/
Gretchen Felker-Martin writes about regressive fandom stuff well: https://www.patreon.com/posts/25994657
Episode 47 – Epstein and the Art World
Hey folks here’s an episode about how abusive scumbags, but the first 20 mins or so is lovely fan mail from your beautiful souls!! We discuss Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to the art world as well as his ridiculous compound(s). Fuck every billionaire forever, let’s fight for a world free of these fucking sociopaths. If you like the podcast and want more, please consider supporting us: https://www.patreon.com/artandlabor (if you support us on drip, please switch over). Follow us on twitter and instagram. You can contact Art & Labor at artandlaborpodcast@gmail.com
Orgy Island: http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/07/everything-we-know-about-jeffrey-epsteins-private-islands.html
Epstein’s Art World Connections: https://hyperallergic.com/508823/jeffrey-epstein/
Episode 46 – Greeting the Anti-Woke Left
Hello! We aren’t going to build a winning leftist coalition by defending white supremacy. The Paglia poisoned ladies of Vice 2 are at it again, this time in an asinine interview in a magazine that explicitly exists to undermine leftist politics. We’ve previously covered nihilism and insidious individualism on the left (Paglia ep, Vice 2 ep), this time we tie ideology to the dehumanization of undocumented people in the US. Please stay tuned til the end to hear about the Caban election in Queens featuring a PSA about provisional ballots with Joey!!
If you like the podcast and want more, please consider supporting us: https://www.patreon.com/artandlabor (if you support us on drip, please switch over). Follow us on twitter and instagram. You can contact Art & Labor at artandlaborpodcast@gmail.com
OK’s bonus writing on the dirtbag left: https://www.patreon.com/posts/gossip-post-24188087
DISPATCH – Podcast Wars and New Museum Action
Now that’s what I call pracksezz!!! Performers could learn something from the museum workers. A year ago we did an episode the MoMA worker’s gala protest, back then we were hopeful their protests would encourage more artworkers to unionize. It’s happening!! In addition to interviewing folks from The New Museum about the specific demands and struggle around their union contract, we speak with people involved in unionization efforts at PS1, Guggenheim, and BAM, including freelancers. We hope listeners get a taste of how possible and beautiful solidarity is even amongst groups that are perceived as disparate. If you like the podcast and want more, please consider supporting us: https://www.patreon.com/artandlabor (if you support us on drip, please switch over). Follow us on twitter and instagram.
Episode 45 – Design and Illustration with Colleen Tighe
We finally got Colleen Tighe (@colleentie) in the studio! We have a super fun and extensive discussion on the particulars making art for a living. Colleen is both an accomplished commercial illustrator and prolific creator of socialist art. This is a great episode for anyone grappling with their participation in capitalism and what to envision for art in post-capitalist future. We’re critical and fun at same time!! If you like the podcast and want more, please consider supporting us: https://www.patreon.com/artandlabor (if you support us on drip, please switch over). Follow us on twitter and instagram.
Episode 44 – Bushwick is Cursed
Hey fuck the Bushwick Collective and their shit murals. Anyways, I’m hungover ’cause it was Lucia’s birthday!!! This episode is joyous! We sing a song, and talk about stuff we like, and also talk about how architecture is cursed and murals are propaganda for trendy real estate companies. We discuss the insidious ways developers use art events against us. The anti-gentrification group Mi Casa NoEs Su Casa did an awesome action at one such event. Fuck nooklyn, fuck colossal media, fuck vice, etc. If you like the podcast and want more, please consider supporting us at: https://www.patreon.com/artandlabor or https://d.rip/artandlabor. Follow us on twitter and instagram.
OK is a media person now: https://hyperallergic.com/503753/a-lack-of-accountability-at-artforums-panel-on-art-activism-and-accountability/
Red Bloom is doing a cool event: https://www.facebook.com/events/677253042720946/
Episode 43 – Art and Transparency
A tide is turning in the art and cultural world! We’re sick of the same tired, unproductive conversations, and are finding strength in solidarity with our peers. We discuss the bizarre Artforum panel about “accountability” and are later joined by Michelle Millar Fisher from the new group Art + Museum Transparency (@AMTransparency). She helped create the now viral document allowing museum workers to anonymously share salaries and urge reform in their industry. If you like the podcast and want more, please consider supporting us at: https://www.patreon.com/artandlabor or https://d.rip/artandlabor. Follow us on twitter and instagram.
Contribute to the salary share doc: http://rebrand.ly/salaryspreadsheet
More info and context on the doc and Michelle’s work: https://hyperallergic.com/503089/museum-workers-share-their-salaries-and-urge-industry-wide-reform/
Look out for OK’s new Op-Ed in Hyperallergic hopefully dropping soon!
Episode 42 – (De)Institutional Research Team and The Crisis at The Whitney
Hey friends! Sorry for the delay, OK has been sick! We have a discussion about the on-going protests at The Whitney—it’s effectiveness and possible strategies. Lucia went to the Biennial and has insights; OK attended the museum solidarity day of the protests and spoke with a memember of (D)IRT, The (De)Institutional Research Team, who calls themselves “an autonomous collective of artists, academics, activists, and cultural workers collaborating to reimagine the way cultural institutions are run. We investigate the underlying structures of philanthropy and governance that perpetuate oppressive systems.” If you like the podcast and want more, please consider supporting us: https://www.patreon.com/artandlabor or https://d.rip/artandlabor. Follow us on twitter and instagram.
Find them here: https://www.d-irt.com/
Artists of Color Bloc: http://www.aocbloc.org/2019/05/17/show-up-in-solidarity-with-whitney-museum-workers/
People’s Cultural Plan: https://www.peoplesculturalplan.org
Episode 41 – #FreeBritney with Eric Kostiuk Williams
NYC went to Toronto then Toronto came to NYC!! We’re thrilled to be joined by Eric Kostiuk Williams (@kostiukwilliams) to discuss TCAF, Queers and Comics, pop star labor rights, gentrification, community, and Cher’s QANON tweet. Eric’s newest book “Our Wretched Town Hall” is available from Retrofit. If you like the podcast and want more, please consider supporting us: https://www.patreon.com/artandlabor or https://d.rip/artandlabor. Follow us on twitter and instagram.
BUY ERIC’S COMICS!!!
The Britney cyborg one: http://www.kostiukwilliams.com/babybel-wax-bodysuit
The new short stories one: http://www.kostiukwilliams.com/our-wretched-town-hall-2018
Comics for LGBTQ prisoners: http://www.abocomix.com/
Comics edited by OK to support abortion funds: http://comicsforchoice.com/
Escape the Gig Economy game: https://2019.award.amaze-berlin.de/games/2019/gigco-escape-gig-economy
