Art as Resistance, Art for Liberation:  A Virtual Conversation with La Resistencia Artists

What is the role of art in abolition? What is the work of different forms of art in social struggles? Join us for a panel discussion with muralist Saiyare Refaei, printmaker Andrea Marcos, and videographer Enrico Abadesco from La Resistencia, a grassroots organization based in Washington State whose #FreeThemAll campaign leverages the power of art and storytelling to end the detention of immigrants and stop deportations. Originally founded in 2014 to support a hunger strike launched by people detained in Tacoma, Washington to protest their confinement, La Resistencia began under the umbrella of the national #Not1More campaign as “NWDC Resistance.” Today, La Resistencia members support and engage with people detained at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, who organize for their own survival and in protest against the detention and deportation regime. Free Them All: Portraits from La Resistencia is currently on display at the Henry’s front entrance.

SPEAKERS

Saiyare Refaei is a muralist whose work can be seen in downtown Tacoma. In addition to her work in La Resistencia, she is a member of Just Seeds.

Enrico Abadesco is a videographer with La Resistencia. He is also part of Bayan and produces video work for Filipino movements. He is half of the music group, Sendai Era.

Andrea Marcos is a queer printmaker, nerd, educator, aries-youngest-child dedicated to collective liberation and radical imagination. Located in Duwamish Territory, Seattle, WA, Andrea's art and words can be seen here.

The panel will be moderated by Tony Lucero, Chair of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Washington.