posters

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gordon Glick on February 21, 2011 at 18:29

The IWW has long been regarded as a pioneer in the use of graphic art for organizing purposes. I have a few examples in my "photos" section here on UB. This tradition started with the founding of the union in 1905, continued during times of the repression of our union and the incarceration of our members, and on through the decades up until today, where the Starbucks Workers Union, the Jimmy Johns Sandwich workers and other branches of our union have made unique logos and posters for use as organizing tools. The IWW also was one of the first unions to use "silent organizers," stickers put up in boxcars, hobo camps, logging camps and all over towns where we were organizing. The small, easy to post stickers were everywhere, and cheered migrant workers looking for jobs by riding the rails. We also had cartoons, comic strips (Mr. Block at http://vancouver.iww.ca/mrblock.html)  If you check out www.iww.org, go to the Literature Dept. or use a search engine to find Wobbly art at book stores and art collectives and there are reproductions for sale. It helps our union to purchase through the Lit Dept., but other branches can benefit directly from sales at political or Labor events where we "table" information, buttons and 'zines. Some of the artwork is truly world class in the strongest sense of the term, and I hope you find it as inspirational as we Wobblies do. I have gone to labor events here in the Pacific Northwest, and have had some great conversations with some of your SEIU sisters and brothers. Solidarity for the One Big Union.

Permalink Reply by Gordon Glick on February 21, 2011 at 18:31

PS. I have a few posters made by Cortez in the wood block style. I'll send you one, and maybe we could do a trade.

Permalink Reply by Stephen Lewis on February 21, 2011 at 18:51

Gordon,

I thank youfor your background on the IWW and art. I generally don't buy posters as I couldn't afford to do much that way. I have successfully done fundraising for frames in order to exhibit the posters I have (3300).

I will follow up on your leads.

I would be happy to trade posters with you. I have a lot of duplicates from a number of countries. Just tell me some guidlines on the type of poster(s) that interest you.

stephen

Gordon Glick said:

The IWW has long been regarded as a pioneer in the use of graphic art for organizing purposes. I have a few examples in my "photos" section here on UB. This tradition started with the founding of the union in 1905, continued during times of the repression of our union and the incarceration of our members, and on through the decades up until today, where the Starbucks Workers Union, the Jimmy Johns Sandwich workers and other branches of our union have made unique logos and posters for use as organizing tools. The IWW also was one of the first unions to use "silent organizers," stickers put up in boxcars, hobo camps, logging camps and all over towns where we were organizing. The small, easy to post stickers were everywhere, and cheered migrant workers looking for jobs by riding the rails. We also had cartoons, comic strips (Mr. Block at http://vancouver.iww.ca/mrblock.html)  If you check out www.iww.org, go to the Literature Dept. or use a search engine to find Wobbly art at book stores and art collectives and there are reproductions for sale. It helps our union to purchase through the Lit Dept., but other branches can benefit directly from sales at political or Labor events where we "table" information, buttons and 'zines. Some of the artwork is truly world class in the strongest sense of the term, and I hope you find it as inspirational as we Wobblies do. I have gone to labor events here in the Pacific Northwest, and have had some great conversations with some of your SEIU sisters and brothers. Solidarity for the One Big Union.

Permalink Reply by Nathan Moore on February 21, 2011 at 19:03

Stephen:

 

What an excellent thing to collect!  I keep my eyes open for posters here in Eugene.  The IWW often puts posters and fliers up in town.  Where do you usually exhibit the posters that you find?

 

Nathan.

Permalink Reply by Nathan Moore on February 21, 2011 at 19:05

Stephen:

 

I don't know if this is relevant to your collecting, but I have a couple of posters from pro-union musical events.  Interested?

 

Nathan.

Permalink Reply by Gordon Glick on February 21, 2011 at 19:32

FW Lewis, Greetings:

   If you have international posters, I would greatly appreciate something from the CNT or CGT from Spain. Any of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Unions in Europe or South America would be great, but the CNT has special meaning for Wobblies and other internationalists, as they fought for the Spanish Republic in 1936-37. If you have posters with a red-and-black motif, or a "Sabot Cat", the black cat symbol known around the world for IWW and similar unions, that's a sure bet that they are democratic unions. Thanks, and I'll get one of the posters tubed up and sent your way. In Solidarity,

G.

Permalink Reply by Stephen Lewis on February 21, 2011 at 21:22

Nathan,

Thanks for writing. This is something I do in my spare time. I have exhibited at the buildings of two Heritage State Parks in MA, and I have exhibited at several libraries. I plan to expand the venues as time allows. Libraries are great as lots of people pass through them. I have a recent Facebook page that is dedicated solely to my poster stuff. The music stuff sounds great and let me know if you want any posters in exchange.

fraternally,

Stephen

Nathan Moore said:

Stephen:

 

What an excellent thing to collect!  I keep my eyes open for posters here in Eugene.  The IWW often puts posters and fliers up in town.  Where do you usually exhibit the posters that you find?

 

Nathan.

Permalink Reply by Stephen Lewis on February 21, 2011 at 21:27

Gordon Glick said:

FW Lewis, Greetings:

   If you have international posters, I would greatly appreciate something from the CNT or CGT from Spain. Any of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Unions in Europe or South America would be great, but the CNT has special meaning for Wobblies and other internationalists, as they fought for the Spanish Republic in 1936-37. If you have posters with a red-and-black motif, or a "Sabot Cat", the black cat symbol known around the world for IWW and similar unions, that's a sure bet that they are democratic unions. Thanks, and I'll get one of the posters tubed up and sent your way. In Solidarity,

G.

Gordon,

I see you know exactly what you want. Sorry to disappoint you, but I probably don't have anything that meets those criteria. Let me see what I can find that comes closest. Don't forget to send me your address. I'll look forward to the poster you are mailing. By the way, I will be in Lisbon and Barcelona in September. Any ideas for leads there?

Stephen

 

Permalink Reply by Nathan Moore on February 21, 2011 at 21:57

Stephen:

 

Great!  Please send me a link to your facebook page.  I know lots of people who will definitely be interested...I'm in the middle of a big move right now, but when things calm down, I'll send you a couple of posters.  If you want to send me anything in exchange, you can go ahead and surprise me as to the content.

 

Great meeting you on here,

 

Nathan. 

 

Stephen Lewis said:

Nathan,

Thanks for writing. This is something I do in my spare time. I have exhibited at the buildings of two Heritage State Parks in MA, and I have exhibited at several libraries. I plan to expand the venues as time allows. Libraries are great as lots of people pass through them. I have a recent Facebook page that is dedicated solely to my poster stuff. The music stuff sounds great and let me know if you want any posters in exchange.

fraternally,

Stephen

Nathan Moore said:

Stephen:

 

What an excellent thing to collect!  I keep my eyes open for posters here in Eugene.  The IWW often puts posters and fliers up in town.  Where do you usually exhibit the posters that you find?

 

Nathan.

Permalink Reply by Gordon Glick on February 22, 2011 at 1:49

FW Lewis, Greetings:

   Barcelona happens to be one of the strongholds of the CNT. The Union federation still exists, is very active in Catalunya and Spanish political and labor struggles, and has posters that are current. If you ask workers, they should know, but avoid the Guardia for this purpose, as old feuds run deep in Europe. You just may see CNT or CGT posters...as posters, on street kiosks and buildings and the like. Good luck and keep an eye peeled for the Sabot Cat.
Stephen Lewis said:

Gordon Glick said:

FW Lewis, Greetings:

   If you have international posters, I would greatly appreciate something from the CNT or CGT from Spain. Any of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Unions in Europe or South America would be great, but the CNT has special meaning for Wobblies and other internationalists, as they fought for the Spanish Republic in 1936-37. If you have posters with a red-and-black motif, or a "Sabot Cat", the black cat symbol known around the world for IWW and similar unions, that's a sure bet that they are democratic unions. Thanks, and I'll get one of the posters tubed up and sent your way. In Solidarity,

G.

Gordon,

I see you know exactly what you want. Sorry to disappoint you, but I probably don't have anything that meets those criteria. Let me see what I can find that comes closest. Don't forget to send me your address. I'll look forward to the poster you are mailing. By the way, I will be in Lisbon and Barcelona in September. Any ideas for leads there?

Stephen

 

Permalink Reply by Stephen Lewis on February 22, 2011 at 4:06

Nathan,

I'm new at Facebook so I don't know what you mean by a link. I thought you just enter Stephen Lewis and then use this email address to narrow the search to me.

Stephen

Nathan Moore said:

Stephen:

 

Great!  Please send me a link to your facebook page.  I know lots of people who will definitely be interested...I'm in the middle of a big move right now, but when things calm down, I'll send you a couple of posters.  If you want to send me anything in exchange, you can go ahead and surprise me as to the content.

 

Great meeting you on here,

 

Nathan. 

 

Stephen Lewis said:

Nathan,

Thanks for writing. This is something I do in my spare time. I have exhibited at the buildings of two Heritage State Parks in MA, and I have exhibited at several libraries. I plan to expand the venues as time allows. Libraries are great as lots of people pass through them. I have a recent Facebook page that is dedicated solely to my poster stuff. The music stuff sounds great and let me know if you want any posters in exchange.

fraternally,

Stephen

Nathan Moore said:

Stephen:

 

What an excellent thing to collect!  I keep my eyes open for posters here in Eugene.  The IWW often puts posters and fliers up in town.  Where do you usually exhibit the posters that you find?

 

Nathan.