Jenny Holzer, Maya Lin, Cat Mazza, Eileen Myles, Cruz Ortiz, Carrie Mae Weems Create Art To Show Support for Hillary
New York, NY — Hillary for America is excited to make public an unprecedented coalition of artists, who are supporting Secretary Clinton’s candidacy with powerful work speaking to the diverse voices behind her historic bid for the White House. Their work on behalf of Hillary can be viewed here.
Eileen Myles wrote a commemorative poem, which you can hear them read at the link. Read the first letter of each line going down for a fun message to the presidential candidate: “HILLARY, I’M YOUR MAN.”
Cat Mazza crafted a floor-to-ceiling knitted map showcasing the history of women in the labor movement and celebrating the generations of women who have fought for equality.
Other examples of works created for the campaign include a video by Carrie Mae Weems, “The Power of Your Vote.” Weems explained, “There is a sense that the presidency ultimately doesn’t matter.” To fight such skepticism, Weems set out to create a film that conveys the urgency and impact of voting.
The video juxtaposes images of people from all walks of life in Brooklyn with excerpts from President Obama’s speech at the Congressional Black Caucus. In the speech, he said: “Tolerance is on the ballot. Democracy is on the ballot. Justice is on the ballot. Good schools are on the ballot… Hope is on the ballot. And fear is on the ballot, too.”
#ArtistsforHillary
Background on each artist:
Eileen Myles is a poet who lives in New York and Marfa, TX. Their books include I Must Be Living Twice, selected poems and Chelsea Girls (a novel). Myles’s many awards include a Guggenheim, the Clark prize for excellence in art writing, The Foundation for Contemporary Art and a Creative Capital grant. Their poems appear in Seasons 2 & 3 of the Emmy-winning show, Transparent.
Maya Lin is the designer behind some of the best-known architectural and land art displays of the 20th century, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Her installations are inspired by landscapes and how individuals interact with terrain and their surrounding environment. She is currently working on what is her final memorial, “What is Missing?,” aimed at raising awareness about the biodiversity and habitat loss brought on by the current climate crisis.
Carrie Mae Weems is a New York-based artist who has spent 40 years of her life examining systems of power. A comprehensive retrospective of her work called Carrie Mae Weems: Three Decades of Photography and Video opened in 2012. She’s also a recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” grant and won the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Jenny Holzer is a New York-based artist who uses text across a variety of media to question and convey ideas of feminism, hierarchy, oppression, and power. She is internationally recognized for her ability to spark and drive conversation through striking public displays. Her many accolades include the prestigious 1990 Leone D’Oro, the highest prize awarded at the Venice Biennale.
Cat Mazza is a Brooklyn-based activist and textile artist whose work combines digital media and traditional crafts to explore the intersection of textiles, technology, and labor. She’s the founder of microRevolt, a collective of “craftivists” that investigates and raises awareness about sweatshop labor through crafts, performances, and digital projects. Mazza is also an active member of the Faculty Staff Union at UMass Boston.
