Shared Voices: Thoughts and Experiences in Social Arts Practice

This full color journey navigates the community centered arts projects of Hugh Merrill, Kansas City based printmaker, educator and activist.

From the introduction:

Major strides have been made in college programs over the past several years. Many times, social practice curriculum has evolved from printmaking, which is a primarily democratic media, similar to social arts. Social arts are a form of work that everyone can participate in and where everyone can create. There is no longer the question of what art can be, or who can be considered an artist. The application of creative thinking makes it possible to affect people from a potent place where they live, where the work becomes relevant to them. In an age where images are everywhere and are used continually in advertising and popular culture, it is not surprising that the age of image-based art is not as important as it once was. Although exhibiting work maintains importance for reflection, the validation of the art is no longer dependent on a gallery wall. It has become the people it serves.