ONE Archives Foundation, the oldest active LGBTQ organization in the United States and the largest repository of LGBTQ materials in the world., is excited to launch “Days of Rage,” a web-based, multimedia exhibit featuring newly digitized LGBTQ+ activist posters from ONE Archives at the USC Libraries. This exhibit features 30+ archival posters with five in-depth storytelling videos from activists and designers.
“Days of Rage” engages with historical LGBTQ+ activist posters by looking at the lived histories and experiences of six activists and graphic designers: graphic designer and founder of BLK Alan Bell, designer and artist Daniel Hyo Kim, HIV/AIDS and trans activist Chandi Moore, designer and educator Silas Munro, activist and photographer Judy Ornelas Sisneros, and activist Jordan Peimer.
These LGBTQ+ community experts each reflect on the posters in a series of stylized videos that emphasize the choreography of their hands along with audio stories and commentary. From bold graphic declarations of community activation to explicit safer sex health campaigns, the selected posters run the affective gamut, bringing up powerful feelings of rage, joy, and sorrow.
“Days of Rage” is curated by Andy Campbell, Associate Professor of Critical Studies at the University of Southern California Roski School of Fine Arts, and co-curated by Tracy Fenix and Austen Villacis, current students in USC Roski’s Curatorial Practices and the Public Sphere graduate program.
This project is organized by ONE Archives Foundation, made possible by a grant from Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture. The digitization of over 4200 posters in ONE’s collections was made possible by a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.