Art for Activism with Art Historian Jess Bailey
At a time when societal and environmental challenges seem more pressing than ever, art is emerging as a vital force in the quest for solutions and justice. Far beyond its aesthetic function, contemporary art is firmly positioned as a catalyst for social change. Artists around the world are using their talents to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, challenging established norms and inspiring movements of protest and reform . It is in this fusion of creativity and activism that lies the hope for a more inclusive and equitable future.
Art has always accompanied social movements, given voice to the oppressed, and helped shape the world we know today. As poet and activist Maya Angelou so aptly said, “Art is the reflection of hope and dreams.” By expressing themselves through their respective disciplines, activists are appropriating a universal language that can touch hearts and minds, advance the causes they care about, and create a better world.
In the age of social media, activist art or artivism is finding new forms of expression and reaching a wider audience than ever before. Today’s artists are using a variety of platforms, including street art, photography, performance, and digital media, to raise awareness about critical issues such as climate change, refugee rights, and gender inequality.
Dr Jess Bailey, a renowned art historian, writer and academic lecturer, focuses her research on the crucial role that art history and visual culture play in both education and the fight for social change. In addition to her academic work, she leads Public Library Quilts, an innovative arts education initiative that explores the deep histories embedded in quilting traditions, highlighting how these forms of tactile expression embody principles of community, memory and creativity.
- Can you tell us how your childhood influenced your passion for art?
I grew up in a family where my father considered anything I intentionally made with my hands to be art. This gave me the impression that becoming an artist or being interested in art was open to anyone, without restrictions. My grandmother, a talented seamstress, made quilts .* My father also called her sewing art, which is unusual in a world that tends to label activities primarily practiced by women as “hobbies” rather than forms of artistic creative expression. Language matters: how we describe someone’s creativity influences how visible and valued it is in the wider world.
My grandmother taught me how to sew and years later I began making quilts using the hand sewing and patchwork techniques that were common in my family. Through this influence, I learned to see the beauty and value in often underappreciated art forms, and it deeply shaped my passion and commitment to art.
- What inspired you to found Public Library Quilts, and what is the project’s core mission?
Carrying on a family tradition is a privilege and a joy, and it got me thinking about how art history can be written differently. Much of the artistic expression was made by a grandmother at a kitchen table or on a porch. I make quilts for family, traditionally given at births, partnerships, and during the mourning of a loved one. I also make quilts for community fundraisers.
Public Library Quilts is inspired by the first quilt exhibit I saw as a child at my local library. Quilts and books are both memory preservers , preserving knowledge and stories in a grassroots way across generations. The primary mission of this project is to raise awareness through quilts, highlighting the diverse history of quilting culture as well as current social activism. I wanted to create a space where quilts could serve as a bridge between generations, telling stories and promoting social change.
- Art has been a powerful tool for activism throughout history. How do you define artivism, and what role do you think it plays in addressing today’s social and political issues?
I love Bell Hooks’ quote “love is action.” To me, art is powerful because it moves things in the world, it has agency, it changes the way people think and what they value in the world around them. Often, the stories of marginalized communities are not preserved in the archives of the powerful: art can create visibility and protection for stories that need to be saved and told again. Art remains unmatched in telling the truth.
Artivism is a form of expression that goes beyond aesthetic creation to become a tool for transformation and resistance. By integrating political and social messages into their works, activist artists (artivists) seek to raise awareness, challenge established norms, and inspire collective action.
Through its emotional power and ability to touch consciences, artivism mobilizes individuals and communities, creates spaces for dialogue and encourages critical reflection. By appealing to the imagination and eliciting emotional responses, artivism can transcend linguistic and cultural barriers, thus fostering global understanding and solidarity.
- Can you tell us about some notable examples where quilting has been used as a powerful tool to express identity and advocate for marginalized communities?
My favorite quilting project is undoubtedly the Freedom Quilting Bee. This project played a vital role in the American civil rights movement and is probably one of the most successful quilting fundraisers in history. Southern black women, such as Estelle Witherspoon, a talented quilter and activist, realized that they could raise money for their communities by selling quilts through mail order. Through their efforts, they not only created vital resources to resist white supremacy, but also supported the fight for voting rights while contributing to the renaissance of American quilting.
A book that beautifully explores the impact of black quilting in the South is art historian Lisa Gail Collins’s “Stitching Love and Loss.” While not specifically about the Freedom Quilting Bee, this book is a valuable resource for how quilts evolve, both in deeply intimate ways and through broader currents of social justice work. This work perfectly illustrates how quilting can be a powerful tool for identity expression and advocacy for marginalized communities.
- How do you approach teaching quilting or involving children in quilting projects? What are the benefits of introducing young people to this form of artistic expression?
Traditionally, the entire community would gather at a "quilting bee" to finish a quilt by piecing together the three layers. A great technique to introduce children to quilting is called "tying" a quilt. This method involves threading through the three layers of the quilt and tying the ends, leaving a colorful tail. It's a fun and easy way to start quilting with children or in a group with friends.
There are many benefits to involving children in quilting or group art projects. First, it allows them to develop valuable manual skills and patience . By working on a quilt, they also learn the value of collaboration and community, realizing that joint efforts can produce something beautiful and lasting.
Children instinctively understand that love is best when it is tangible and meaningful. Creating a quilt for someone as an affirmation of love is a gift that will bring comfort and warmth, both in good times and bad. Additionally, quilts are often passed down from generation to generation, introducing children to the importance of family history and preserving memories.
By teaching quilting, we can also educate young people about the importance of telling intimate stories, especially those of people who are marginalized or oppressed by society. Quilts then become memory keepers, carrying the stories of those who have often been excluded from official archives. This helps children develop an appreciation for cultural diversity and understand the power of art as a vehicle for social justice and change.
Thus, by introducing young people to quilting, we offer them not only a form of artistic expression, but also a way to connect with their heritage, to value the stories of their ancestors, and to contribute to the preservation of collective memory.
*Quilting is a textile art that involves stitching together layers of fabric to create decorative and utilitarian designs. This practice, often passed down through generations, carries with it rich cultural and personal narratives, reflecting the identities and experiences of the communities that perpetuate it.
