SJ Feminism

Social Justice Mural Project for the City of Gainesville, FL and 352Walls. Location: Martin Luther King Multipurpose Center, 1028 Northeast 14th Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. Size: 8' x 8'

This mural is executed with light-fast, low-VOC, acrylic mural paint and brush. In an effort to help protect the environment, no spray paints was used. It was created in a realistic style with layers of transparencies.

In the 1960’s and 70’s, Gainesville, FL was recognized as a US city at the forefront of the Women’s Rights Movement. Contemporaries of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, local activists protested the status quo of women’s health, sexuality, and employment, and founded several feminist institutions.

While a number of legislation and other non-feminist institutions rose in the country during the 1980’s, many original feminist institutions in Gainesville consequently fell by the wayside. Indeed, we are witnessing even more anti-feminist legislation today, so much so, that Women’s Rights and Social Justice advocates continue to struggle against the status quo that looks and sounds like a ghost from the past.

Inspired by the legacy of these women of the 60’s and 70’s, the “SJ Feminism” mural honors the work of our foremothers. It calls out to today’s advocates for Women’s Rights and Social Justice Feminism, to act with renewed vigor and determination in the challenge surrounding issues of oppression dealing with race, class, sexuality, and citizenship that goes beyond feminist advocacies of the 60’s and 70’s.

The transparent background is a collection of Iris flowers that honor the Gainesville feminists who started several institutions, including local feminist book stores during the 60’s and 70’s. Most notably, The Wild Iris Book Store, closed it’s doors just a few years ago. The woman signifies the movement towards Social Justice Feminism today, recognizing current issues of oppression of all marginalized groups of people. Her eyes are closed, denying access to the woman’s inner thoughts and forcing the viewer into a silent, powerful place of thinking about and engaging with the message, rather than being preoccupied with the aesthetics of open eyes.