Nebraska Appleseed Posters
Since 2017, Nebraska Appleseed has partnered with designer and activist Colleen Syron to annually curate a limited-edition Art + Justice Poster Series. These silkscreen posters are unveiled, exhibited, and sold at The Good Apple Awards. All proceeds will then go to Nebraska Appleseed’s fight for justice and opportunity for all.
2019’s theme, Sowing the Seeds of Justice, we want to acknowledge the labor, diligence, and determination it takes for people to sustain the fight for a stronger, more just society. Real change doesn’t happen overnight, or from the efforts of any one person alone. It takes a community. It requires persistence, often over many years and despite discouragement and setbacks. Advocating for a better community, a different world than what we experience today, demands imagination, hope, and optimism. It requires a recognition that the small acts and work today will grow into something bigger and bolder than the initial seeds we plant. Working together, we are Sowing the Seeds of Justice for a stronger, vibrant, and inclusive community.
CLIENT:
Nebraska Appleseed
DATE:
2017 - present
A Threat to Justice
by Colleen Syron
Paper: French Whip Cream
Colors: Cool Grey 11, Cool Grey 2, PMS 153
“A Threat to Justice is a call to action and a rally for the people because as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. states, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
This poster highlights the fact that the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Ace is widely believed to have racially disfavored African Americans and low-income communities. According to the ACLU’s report, Cracks in the System “recent data that indicates that African Americans make up 15 percent of the country’s drug users, yet they make up 37 percent of those arrested for drug violations, 59 percent of those convicted, and 74 percent of those sentenced to prison for a drug offense. More than 80 percent of the defendants sentenced for crack offenses are African American, despite the fact that more than 66 percent of crack users are white or Hispanic.”1
In 2018 The First Step Act, a bipartisan legislation, was passed and signed into law. This legislation begins to reform some of the sentencing laws that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed African-Americans. ”
~ Colleen Syron
About Nebraska Appleseed
Appleseed fights for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans and takes our fight wherever they can do the most good, whether that’s at the courthouse, in the statehouse, or in the community. They believe that every individual in our community matters, deserves to be treated fairly, and has the opportunity to succeed. They think about big, systemic issues that affect thousands of Nebraskans – good jobs and fair wages, access to essential health care, an immigration system that respects families, a better child welfare system that make kids and families whole. They think about society as a whole to ensure every Nebraskan is represented and has a fair shot at achieving the American Dream.
They believe our community and society is stronger if justice and opportunity is real for everyone. The best way to make real change in Nebraska is by working together, building a stronger community as a community. At the end of the day, we’re all “in it” together. By looking out for everyone, we will all rise and prosper together.
Posters can be purchased at the Art + Social Justice website »
Other Participating Designers
Now is not the time
by Sam Rapien
Description
Size: 18″x 24″
Paper: French Lemon Drop
Colors: White, Pantone Neutral Black U
New Politics
by Ella Durham
Description
Size: 18″x 24″
Paper: Speckletone Stach White
Colors: Green (368), Blue (PMS 291), Black
Big Change
by Oxide Design
Description
Size: 18″x 24″
Paper: Speckletone Starch White
Colors: 2736 C (blue)
Wheels of Justice
by Cathy Solarana
Description
Size: 18″x 24″
Paper: Pure White 100C
Colors: PMS 583 (green), PMS 7409 (yellow), PMS 173 (red)
“I always try to find some hope even in the midst of chaos. And, as frustrating as these current times are, we should find solace in the fact that justice, although very, very, very slow, will prevail. At least I hope so.” – Cathy Solarana
Just
by Quentin Lueninghoener
Description
Size: 18″x 24″
Paper: French Whip Cream
Colors: PMS black over PMS 2150U over PMS 186U
“While I was falling in love with graphic design, journalism, and story-telling in high school, I came across Ricardo Levins Morales’ classic “8 Hours” poster he made for the Union Advocate, and it’s stuck with me ever since. I admired how he managed to tie political and social beliefs into a compelling narrative, and designed it in a style that’s reflective of Unions’ historical struggle. In my design work, I’m fascinated with how historical contexts affect the design, and how designers and artists can use historic motifs to convey a story, idea, or message. So I decided to nod to Morales’ work, but use a more contemporary style for the more contemporary context of the issues being addressed in the poster.” – Quentin Lueninghoener
Humans
by Justin Kemerling
Description
Size: 18″x 24″
Paper: French Pure White 100C
Colors: Black over 495u (faded red) and 635u (faded blue)
“The design takes on the issue of overcrowding and the efficiency of treating people like they aren’t human. Starting in 1619, slave ships crammed people into perfect configurations. Now it’s being done with cell blocks. A pattern of people with their hands up, outstretched, ready for inspection upon entry into prison. Is anyone able to let their guard down ever again? I find perfect geometric patterns quite beautiful. And the maximized use of space comforting. But in this case, both the pattern and use of space represents a cold, calculated brutality. It might seem logical to just say we should build more prisons. That misses the point entirely. Inspired by the Central Park 5, the New York Times 1619 Project, and Ramsay Bolton.” – Justin Kemerling