Scope of Solidarity: An Online Art Exhibit
The art shown here was commissioned by NNU to emphasize the critical role art plays in resistance, especially in times of crisis — and to connect our struggles for justice and protection in the workplace to broader fights for social justice.
We asked each of the artists to comment on their pieces.
Patricia Wakida
What inspired you about taking on this commission?
Seeing the toll that Covid-19 has had, not only on nurses on the frontline who were infected as a result of treating the ill, but also on their overall support network, such as equal pay, workers’ compensation and childcare, which was already insufficient. Living through this pandemic has revealed the many ways that we are so utterly dependent on our nation's nurses, yet we don't have systems in place to protect them and show our appreciation and gratitude in tangible, supportive ways.
Expand on why you made the artistic choices in the representation of the theme, "Scope of Solidarity"
In order to best serve the people who heal and care for us, we must work together to demand the services and benefits that truly protect them. I drew a nurse in the midst of the battle against Covid-19 in full PPE, fierce, yet vulnerable and utterly human. At the height of my completing the initial pencil drawing on linoleum, the sweet peas were raging in my backyard garden, delicate yet determined as they reached towards the sun, perfuming everything around them. I incorporated them into the image to surround the nurse with the kind of nurturing, delicious care that she deserved.
What did you want the nurses to feel when they saw your work?
The tenderness and glory of being alive. The warrior and the believer.
Fernando Martí
What inspired you about taking on this commission?
I am in awe of the work of nurses, especially at this time. I think of healers as holders of hands - which doesn't capture the complexity of what nurses do, but perhaps the essence.
Expand on why you made the artistic choices in the representation of the theme, "Scope of Solidarity"
The drawing riffs on the classic image of solidarity: the locked arms of the civil rights movement, Black and white together in the Freedom Rides, etc. There's a power in the clasped hands: when I think of nurses I think of caring hands, working hands, holding hands - holding each other and holding the rest of us who depend on their work and caring. The image represents solidarity between nurses, across race, ethnicities and genders, and across workplaces, with different types of scrubs. NNU organizers shared the importance of the red buttons, especially at the beginning of an organizing campaign, the wearing of the button as a first symbol of resistance for many nurses, and I began to think of that as part of a shared culture of nurses seeing themselves as part of a working class. Every nurse is wearing an N-95 mask, as a symbol of the demands for proper PPE.
What did you want the nurses to feel when they saw your work?
Feelings, fears, demands, agency vary from person to person. But long-term change, respect, dignity, safety, come from unity, not just at the workplace but in working class solidarity that can start to shift the power dynamics. I was striving for that sense of working class solidarity.
Sam Huang
What inspired you about taking on this commission?
I am honored to take on this commission allowing me to merge both my artistic practices and my social justice activism together, for the advancement of the greater good of humanity. Growing up in a working class immigrant family where my mom was a strong union member, I am keenly aware of the important role labor unions play in our society. When the opportunity for this commission opened up, I approached it as a platform for me to 1) help advocate the ideals of NNU, 2) promote solidarity amongst the workers of the world, and 3) show my deep appreciation for our dedicated nurses. Additionally, the timing of the commission was a lifeline for me during my Covid self quarantine because the commission got me working again in my studio with a feeling that I was actively helping the challenges we are facing.
Expand on why you made the artistic choices in the representation of the theme, "Scope of Solidarity"
For this commission, I chose 3 key objectives represented in 1) the flag, 2) the nurse holding the flag, and 3) the everyday people in the back united in solidarity. The flag represents the ultimate goal for a healthier, caring and just society. The main motifs I chose are the stethoscope, the planet Earth - our home, and a healthy normal sinus rhythm heartbeat.
The union of the stethoscope and the planet represents the vow of nurses to help and heal all people around the world. This vow radiates from the heart-center of the earth and pumps out love in the form of hearts. The normal sinus rhythm heartbeat represents a state of well being that is possible for all people now with an undivided shared goal. The BIPOC nurse in the foreground is depicted with a N95 mask in her iconic red scrubs with a strong and unwavering stance and gaze. She represents the energy and commitment of all nurses worldwide.
Behind the nurse and the flag, I portrayed a sampling of everyday people in our society assembled together holding hands in a chain of union and solidarity. Each person is wearing a protective mask to do their part in the fight against eradicating Covid. This human chain of everyday people represents our collective power that values caring and life.
What did you want the nurses to feel when they saw your work?
When the nurses see this image, I want them to feel empowered and appreciated for their tireless dedication to care for the sick in their workplace and beyond into our everyday society. I also want them to feel the energy of empowerment since they are in the forefront of our society leading us in an united global movement to care and heal the planet and all its inhabitants. Lastly, I want the nurses to know and feel that they are the exemplary example of our society, where the nurses are giving their best everyday relieving suffering of the sick and the wounded without any regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexual identity. The nurses see past these identifications and treat everyone as just fellow human beings.
Micah Bazant
What inspired you about taking on this commission?
For years I've been inspired by NNU's intersectional organizing around racial justice, Medicare for All, labor, and environmental justice. And now, during the pandemic, nurses are sacrificing so much to keep us all safe. NNU has been a crucial voice advocating for PPE. I was honored to offer something back and to try and represent the power of your work and organizing.
Expand on why you made the artistic choices in the representation of the theme, "Scope of Solidarity"
I spent a lot of time looking through photos of NNU's actions and campaigns, especially the many multiracial protests showing solidarity in action. I wanted to especially show the leadership of nurses who are Black, Asian, Indigenous and people of color, and the organization's global solidarity in this time of ecological crisis.
What did you want the nurses to feel when they saw your work?
I wanted to show the grief and heartbreak of the pandemic and the incredible power of anti-racist organizing. I hope that nurses will feel their work and struggles are represented with care, beauty, and dignity.
Ajuan Mance
What inspired you about taking on this commission?
There are several nurses in my family and in my friend group, and all speak highly of both their colleagues and their profession; but I have mostly admired their work and their community from afar. When I was invited to create a piece of work for the largest organization of registered nurses in the United States, it felt like an exciting opportunity to engage with nurses on a broader scale.
Expand on why you made the artistic choices in the representation of the theme, "Scope of Solidarity"
I wanted to create a piece that reflects the activist work of the NNU as well as its diversity. Nurses understand that healthcare begins long before patients get to the hospital door, and the issues for which the NNU advocates feel to me like a deep partnership between client, caregiver, and the global community of people who seek health, justice, and well-being. I wanted to create a piece of art that conveys that message. Also, as an artist, the vivid color and symbolism of the red scrubs was powerful.
What did you want the nurses to feel when they saw your work?
I wanted to create a piece in which nurses saw their community and their values reflected back to them. I also wanted to create a piece that communicates my respect and appreciation for the work of the NNU.