As a company whose mission is strengthening the arts economy, we prioritize community in our internal and external processes. We feel grateful to our communities for aiding our growth, sharing resources, and constantly inspiring us. Over the last few months, even years, we’ve been feeling the need to make statements about our values and issues that seem to be more and more divisive. We often struggle to find ways to talk through these things publicly while also trying to chip away at daily survival. At this moment, many concurrent atrocities are happening across the globe. Genocides are happening in Palestine, Sudan and Congo, as well as multiple uprisings as a rebuttal to oppressive regimes and autocracies. Our own country feels like it is on the brink of disaster. As an organization whose mission is to bolster the arts economy, we aim to generate money for artists and arts workers. Our generation of revenue though also contributes to taxes, which our government is currently using to provide bombs and missiles that are killing Palestinians by the tens and hundreds every day.

At the time of this statement, the death toll in Gaza is at a staggering 40,000. However, the Lancet Study suggests that this number could be closer to 186,000 after factoring in the bodies under the rubble that are still unaccounted for, those who have succumbed to illness and injury from lack of medical aid and the destruction of hospitals, and more. It’s impossible to not think about it as we attempt to build sustainable systems for our community in the unforgiving landscape of late stage capitalism and our public dollars are diverted to support ongoing atrocities 6,000 miles away.

Holding all of this grief, desire, joy, and anger while we chip away at making a living for ourselves and others feels impossible at times. Times like this are when we turn to individual members of the community and witness the ways they give back and work towards a collective goal of betterment. As members of the Pittsburgh arts community, we’re privileged to work with incredible hearts and minds. We’d like to take a moment to spotlight these standout artists, placing energy into the liberation of people and an end to the injustices.

We also encourage you to explore these artists' work as a local starting point to a difficult conversation. We also recommend taking a look into Operation Olive Branch’s Master Spreadsheet, which comprehensively lists various ways to show your support to those in Palestine, including how to purchase an E-Sim so people can stay connected.

Justseeds
A collective of artists across North America, using printmaking as a tool for transformative power of personal expression in concert with collective action

Click here to download free graphics made by Justseeds artists

Conflict Kitchen
Closed project from Jon Rubin that served the public cuisine from countries in conflict with the US.

Samia Halaby
She has been a practicing artist for 5 decades and has constantly pushed the boundaries of abstract art.

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