“Make Art Not War: Pierogi for Peace”
18 March, 2022
11am–6pm, Weds–Sun
A group exhibition
Proceeds will be donated to the following organizations—
World Central Kitchen
Providing food on the ground for those in immediate need
Unicef Ukraine Relief
Aid for children affected by the invasion of Ukraine
Refuge Point
Aid for refugees and displaced persons
Proceeds will be donated to the following organizations:
World Central Kitchen http://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine
Providing food on the ground for those in immediate need
Unicef Ukraine Relief http://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine
Aid for children affected by the invasion of Ukraine
Refuge Point
Aid for refugees and displaced persons
Link to full video by Horace Anderson and Reed Anderson here: “Stop Putin’s War On Ukraine”
Press Release
Pierogi is proud to present a group exhibition responding to the currently unfolding war in Ukraine and senseless wars of aggression preceding this one. Many of the works included here were made before the Ukraine invasion by artists responding to past wars and conflicts in a variety of ways. Other artists have made and are currently making work for this exhibition in direct response to this war and will be installed after the exhibition opening on March 18th. We will be adding works throughout the exhibition to accommodate those currently in process. To date sixty artists will participate. A portion of proceeds from this exhibition will go to aid refugees and displaced persons from Ukraine, and a number of artists have dedicated 100% of proceeds*. There will be an opening reception Friday, March 18th from 4–8pm.
The phrase “Make Love Not War” became popular during the mid-1960s counterculture, anti-war movement. Love and peace as alternative to war. John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Bed Peace” (1969) is a well-known example of artists employing this idea.
“Make Art Not War,” the text work included here, was first created in 1997 by artist Bob and Roberta Smith as part of his solo exhibition at London’s Chisenhale Gallery. According to Smith, the origin of this phrase was his father, an artist and World War II veteran. “… [O]n his deathbed he said to me, ‘Make art, not war. Don’t hate, draw.’” (Smith, 1997**)
The artists included in this exhibition have responded to war in a variety of ways over the years and more recently. Charles Yuen’s “Duck and Cover” references the safety drills in which American school children raised during the Cold War era were taught to hide under desks—as if a bit of wood could protect them from potential nuclear fallout—and could apply equally today. Kim Jones, following his service in the Vietnam War, developed both his mudman performance persona and what he referred to as “war drawings”—simple graphite on paper drawings of “X” and “O” figures drawn, erased, moved, and drawn again in new positions. Jane Fine’s painting “Rise Up” depicts a hopeful flower rising under a six-pointed sun-star out of a muck-encrusted, crushed Swastika. Ellen Harvey’s “Ghost of the Lion of Al-Lat” is a painting of a stone sculpture that was destroyed in Palmyra, Syria by ISIS in 2015, documenting the destruction of arts and culture through war. Hugo Crosthwaite’s “Sunflowers for Ukraine” responds directly to the current conflict expressing hope for the Ukrainian people’s future.
Today, artists located in Ukraine and beyond are responding in real time. Many of those located in Ukraine are only able to respond by picking up arms in defense of family, friends, and their own lives. Those located elsewhere are deploying art in the attempt to bring attention to the country’s plight. We will be posting those efforts as we find them.
Artworks will be added throughout the exhibition in an ongoing manner.
*Bob and Roberta Smith, Don’t Hate Sculpt, exhibition catalogue, Chisenhale Gallery, London 1997. P.2