An Incomplete Archive of Activist Art

Book excerpt: The two-volume publication reflects on the Rubin Foundation's art and social justice initiatives over the last six years, including thematic essays, roundtable discussions, and newly commissioned artworks. An Incomplete Archive of Artistic Activism is a publication in two volumes, documenting the Rubin Foundation's art and social justice mission, serving as a critical and educational resource for those interested in activist art practices and philanthropy. One volume highlights the emergence of a cultural shift, addressing art's role in the formation of both community and justice, featuring essays by Andre Lepecki and Lucy Lippard, thematic roundtables with cultural producers, and newly commissioned text-based artwork by Edgar Heap of Birds, Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Dread Scott, and Mierle Laderman Ukeles. The second volume documents exhibitions at The 8th Floor, the Foundation's exhibition and event space, such as In the Power of Your Care, Enacting Stillness, The Intersectional Self, and the exhibition series Revolutionary Cycles, with newly commissioned propositional texts by Mel Chin and Claudia Rankine. This compendium is conceived to be a critical resource for those interested in socially engaged art and includes contributions from leading artists, scholars, critics, and activists.