Action Verbs > Action Words

 Graduate students boycotting PAFA. A series of exhibitions hosted by AUTOMAT, Pink Noise Projects, Grizzly Grizzly, and Practice

Show Titles, Artists’ Names and Location: 

• Public Opinion in AUTOMAT - Lily Furniss, Sara Havekotte, Steve Notich and Victoria Davis 
• Slow Burn in Pink Noise Projects - Laura Carden and Sarah Treharne
• all at once / little by little in Grizzly Grizzly - Morgan Osburn and Tess Wei
• Autumn Casey: The Sun and the Spider, Sat Down Beside Her in Practice - Autumn Casey
• Complaints Department in Unit 2E - Julia Rix, Maura Roncace and (additional works by) Steve Notich (also showing in AUTOMAT)

Names of Participants: Autumn Casey, Julia Rix, Laura Carden, Lily Furniss, Maura Roncace, Morgan Osburn, Sara Havekotte, Sarah Treharne, Steve Notich and Victoria Davis

Show Opening: Saturday, September 5

Show Closing: Sunday, September 27 

Hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm - 4pm and by appointmentO

Description of show:

The participating artists in Action Verbs > Action Words are boycotting PAFA’s 119th Annual Student Exhibition. These recent graduate students condemn the recent actions and words that have come from the institution’s current administration. The administration and Board of Trustees have failed to adequately respond to our demand letter. Instead, they continue to hide behind ineffective “listening sessions” where students are asked to perform emotional labor in perpetuity. These meetings do not absolve the institution of making immediate, real and lasting systemic change. Without these necessary changes, PAFA perpetuates a toxic environment that is not safe for nor supportive of our BIPOC community. It is our moral obligation to no longer contextualize our work within this institution – an institution that: refuses to publicly support the defunding of the police; perpetuates and profits from white supremacy; and, therefore, demonstrates a lack of true solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and human rights crisis. 

Where one shows their artwork is equally important to the work itself. Therefore, we are deeply grateful for the swift solidarity and support from Philadelphia’s AUTOMAT, Grizzly Grizzly, Practice and Pink Noise Projects. Upon hearing about the boycott, these artist-run galleries immediately reached out to donate their spaces. Their actions exemplify the kind of arts community we hope to foster – wherein being resolute in one's morals will always be stronger than the spineless, antiquated, financially-motivated agenda of any institution. As PAFA continues to fail to meet the essential changes that this moment demands it contributes to its own irrelevance.

Installation shots and images of works are available upon request.