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Out of the Closet and Into the Street – Posters of LGBTQ Struggles and Celebrations

The Center for the Study of Political Graphics is holding a panel discussion with local LGBTQ activists who use political graphics to educate and inspire action about the critical issues their communities face.
The event is Sunday, Sept. 12, from 2:30 – 4:30 pm at the ONE Archives Gallery & Museum
626 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
(entrance on El Tovar). It is being held in 
conjunction with the exhibition Out of the Closet & Into the Street: Posters of LGBTQ Struggles & Celebrations.

For more than 40 years, political posters have been one of the primary art forms to challenge the oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals and communities. From the fight to expose inadequate healthcare for HIV/AIDS patients and end the AIDS crisis in the 80s & 90s; to the ongoing battles to end discriminatory laws; to efforts raising awareness of how LGBTQ communities are alienated by institutionalized racism and hate crimes–panelists will discuss the past and recent history through posters and graphics displayed in CSPG’s current exhibition, Out of the Closet & Into the Street: Posters of LGBTQ Struggles & Celebrations. 


Moderator: Joe Smoke is an Art Historian and Director of Grant Programs for the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA). In the 1990s he was Executive Director of the Los Angeles Center for Photographic Arts, and a fundraiser for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. For the past fifteen years Joe has also been moonlighting as history professor at Art Center College of Design, Chaffey College, Otis College, and Cal. State University Fullerton. Joe was a member of the Community Advisory Committee for Out of the Closet & Into the Street.

Panelists: Treva Ellison recently moved from Chicago to Los Angeles to attend USC graduate school in American Studies. She is an active member of Critical Resistance, L.A. and INCITE!, Women and Trans People of Color Against Violence. Treva believes deeply in the power of political art as a tool for popular education and transformative organizing. Her favorite art-making tools are spray paint, cardboard, markers, black ink pens, and grilled-cheese sandwiches.Treva has stencils installed as part of Out of the Closet & Into the Street.

Stephanie Murphy can’t stand homonationalism, but believes in the power of transformative justice and enjoys a good rack of dominoes. Her interests include queer sub cultures and new media. Stephanie was a member of the Community Advisory Committee for Out of the Closet & Into the Street and volunteered at the stencil workshops held in conjunction with the exhibition. Her stencils are also part of the exhibition.

Helene Schpak began her activism while a teenager when she staged the first moratorium in the East Valley opposing the Viet Nam War. She leaped into ACTUP/LA during their demonstration to support 5P21, a dedicated AIDS treatment area within County USC Hospital. Helene is currently educating communities about how their built environment directly impacts their quality of life. She recently jumped back into the gay marriage debate to address the lack of separation between church & state. Helene produced several of the posters that are in Out of the Closet & Into the Street.

Jeff Schuerholz is a long time activist. He was a silkscreen artist in Berkeley creating posters and art for many groups in the anti-Viet Nam War movement. He was a very involved member of ACTUP/LA and Queer Nation, Los Angeles. Jeff was a member of the Community Advisory Committee for Out of the Closet & Into the Street and provided many of the posters on display.

After the panel discussion Carol Wells and panelists will lead an exhibition tour. Out of the Closet & Into the Street: Posters of LGBTQ Struggles & Celebrations is on display at the ONE Archives Gallery & Museum through September 26, 2010

For more information call Mary Sutton at 323.653.4662