We are living in increasingly heavy times.

The United States is in the grip of the most openly oppressive administration of my lifetime with the rights of many Americans in peril. Institutions that people once looked to for justice (or to check the worst impulses of the worst people) stand corrupted themselves, fostering an environment in which law abiding residents are kidnapped in broad daylight for chasing a better life while military vehicles line the streets on which these acts occur. Every day, a new corporate media outlet capitulates to the racist, anti equality agenda the president is pushing, betraying the values and population they once claimed to serve. As I write this, I have to fight the impulse to tone it down because it sounds so hyperbolic but this is what is actually happening. And in order to fight it you have to first acknowledge it:

Whatever country you thought existed before this administration is gone forever, there is no going back. The only question is where do we go from here...

A question that I find myself asking is "What role can my work play in the fight for what I believe in?" Art and design can be a critical part of any popular movement and the one taking shape in response to this administration is no exception. Design is a form of communication that has lasting impact when approached with the intention to spread knowledge, but we have to stop depending exclusively on social media platforms to spread the message.

Gil Scott Heron said "the revolution will not be televised" but I'd like to add that it won't be going viral either.

Every major social media platform is not only resistant to the actions needed to stop our slide into authoritarianism, their business interests incentivize them to accelerate the shift. We need to stop expecting them to act differently and adjust to the facts on the ground.

Fortunately, there are examples in our recent history that we can draw from. It's important to remember that the reason that those in power are fighting so hard to dismantle the progress this country has made is because of the successes of the past. I personally look to the incomparable Emory Douglas and the design work he did for the Black Panther Party as the north star for how to resist a government intent on your annihilation.

The signage of the Civil Rights Movement, specifically the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike is another example of effective communication through the use of design. These are just two of many examples from past movements that show how powerful design can be when aligned with purpose. It's a sentiment that seems out of place in this era of brand sponsorships and Youtube creators, but that in itself is indicative of how the social media landscape has sapped most visual mediums of the power they once possessed. We're not going to overcome this moment in time without finding a way to get back to what matters most.

Through Nonstndrd Creative Projects, I have always made work that aligned with my principles. My photography documents the results of gentrification and unaffordable housing in Los Angeles and beyond. The artwork and design I produce is a reflection of that perspective as well, from my collaborations with LAPL as a Creator in Residence to working with the independent publication L.A. Taco covering the ICE raids in the community, purpose has always propelled my creative ambitions.

On the walls and streets of Los Angeles, I've seen artists rising to meet the moment. Graffiti has always been the voice of the unheard and it's taken a decidely political turn in recent months. Beyond the expected "F*ck ICE" tags, there's been a noticeable uptick in political messages along the 101 and 10 freeways. As always, the streets are taking the lead in regards to pushing the movement forward. It's going to take a sustained effort across mediums to keep the fight going, from music and literature to zines and stickers, we need to keep the message visible and alive.

It's not a conflict we can afford to lose.

-Stay safe out there...
Nonstndrd Creative