During the Pandemic
Art and science are at the center of our family conversations about social justice. During the pandemic, we turn to each other as a creative team, even more than usual. Making art together helps us continue to process recent events and solutions to the pervasive inequities that exist. tadada Scientific Lab is excited to further engage with the greater artistic community. In the mean time, we’d like to share our artistic/societal reflections with you.
Antiracist USDJ
Teal, our 10-year old son, created this United States Department of Justice Antiracist logo, inspired by Ibram X. Kendi.
As a society, we’ve figured out how to guarantee and certify nutritious foods, helping us to support and invest in a healthy future. What if we had a similar way to certify antiracist institutions and products, to support and invest in a just and equitable future? That way consumers can have an educated voice.
Say Their Names
These are the names of people tragically killed, their ages, and where they lived across the United States. In thinking about the devastating loss of life, and inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, we reflect upon living under the weight of that responsibility. From National Public Radio: “NPR's Investigations team has identified the shooting deaths of 135 unarmed Black people by police over the past five years”. (Stephen writes on our rooftop; July 4-5, 2020)
Social Movement Art
Teal assigned himself this social movement art project. The sketch on the left shows a group of social justice protesters holding a banner with a quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes”. In the past we’ve made signs and participated in marches in NYC, Madison and Wellington (NZ), but because of the pandemic we didn’t march this summer; as you can see in the sketch, protesters of all ages appear in the distance. On the right is a woodcut print he made using the same sketch, but the image is more emotional and vivid, and the banner now reads “BLM” for Black Lives Matter.
Taking a Walk on State Street
During and following the weeks of social justice protests in Madison, WI, boarded-up windows served as canvases for remembrance, contemplation, and inspiration. In our family, we discuss this artistic reaction to the trauma and violence experienced by the Black community, as a means to educate and heal through creativity. Coordinated by the Madison Arts Program, over 100 murals were commissioned and painted, and many other non-commissioned works were created. Images of the Earth are portrayed on many of the murals, a symbol of our interconnection (June 16, 2020).
Who is this human being? Portraits from Black History Bootcamp’s Foremothers.
It’s been a time of learning and renewal about issues of social justice, expanding our collective awareness about the historical context of existing inequities, and mending critical gaps in our knowledge. There has been so much innovation and creative expression to inspire learning about — and from — our history, so we don’t keep reliving the mistakes of our past. Two such projects are WHO IS THIS HUMAN BEING and Girl Trek's Black History Bootcamp. Gigi traced images of portraits, as we embarked on our quest to learn about these incredible historical figures. Click on a portrait to learn more.
Taychopera Project (March 2020-ongoing)
Think about time. What did Madison look like 1000 years ago? 100 years ago? What do we want this place to look like 100 years from now, and how can we ensure that our shared future recognizes and forwards the rights of every single person that calls this place home? These are questions that we need to collectively answer by expanding our awareness beyond an incomplete historical narrative, so we can experience the richness of our diverse history and future. Gigi documents Lake Mendota (January 2021).