Pressing Issues: 1930s Social Justice Prints at Chazen Museum

The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Chazen Museum of Art is showcasing 'Pressing Issues: Printmaking as Social Justice in 1930s United States,' an exhibition that explores how artists utilized printmaking to address social injustices during the Great Depression. Running from September 8 to December 13, the exhibit features 40 seldom-seen prints from the Krannert Art Museum in Champaign, Illinois, which organized the show, along with six pieces from the Chazen's own collection. The exhibition is divided into four main themes: workers' rights, women in the workforce, racial terror, and fascism. Curator James R. Wehn emphasizes the accessibility of prints, which were easily shared with schools and libraries, reflecting the WPA/FAP's mission to embed art within communities. Originally organized by Krannert in 2020, the exhibition continues to tour due to its ongoing relevance. Featured artists include Boris Gorelick, Chet La More, Herman Volz, Carl G. Hill, Harry Gottlieb, Lloyd Wulf, Ida Abelman, and Florence Kent, among others.