Something to Say: Thoughts on Art and Politics in America

by Richard Klin

Photographs by Lily Prince

Description

The fusion of art and politics is axiomatic in much of the world. In America, their relationship is erratic. What is art in the service of social justice? Is an artist obligated to address the political? This book profiles, in words and photos, disparate creative forces who offer thoughts on their point of engagement with the political sphere. In the words of Pete Seeger, art “may save the world. Visual arts, dancing, acting arts, cooking arts. . . . Joe DiMaggio reaching for a fly ball—that was great dancing!”

Profiles in Something to Say:

• The late Howard Zinn
• Pete Seeger
• Yoko Ono
• Screenwriter Ron Nyswaner
• Palestinian American standup comedian Maysoon Zayid
• Poet Quincy Troupe
• Dominican American painter Freddy Rodríguez
• Filmmaker Gini Reticker
• Slowpoke cartoonist Jen Sorensen
• Performance and installation artist Sheryl Oring
• Children’s writer Jacqueline Woodson
• Chef and food activist Didi Emmons
• Chinese American poet and art critic John Yau
• Punk-rock activist Franklin Stein of the band Blowback
• Klezmer fiddler Alicia Svigals

About the Author

Richard Klin‘s writing has appeared in the FORWARD, BROOKLYN RAIL, THE BLOOMSBURY REVIEW, PARABOLA, THE RAMBLER, online at JANUARY, and other media. He lives in New York State’s Hudson Valley.

Lily Prince has exhibited in over fifty national and international exhibitions and has been awarded commissions by numerous hotels and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. She is an associate professor of art at William Paterson University. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, Newark Star-Ledger, New American Paintings, San Francisco Weekly, and other media.