A Call for Art!
The Annual Bridging Art and Awareness Challenge:
"2008: Redefining the American Dream"

Sponsored by the Ginsberg Center for Community Service & Learning with support from Arts at Michigan and the School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan

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ABOUT THE CHALLENGE

The so-called American Dream of every family with 2.5 English speaking children having an individual house furnished with a set of appliances and a white picket fence around it ignores the diversity of dreams that reside on this land. It is physically and ecologically impossible for everyone to attain this standard of living and consumption. Secondly, for cultural and familial reasons, people may not want to live in this way. Thirdly, the US's national pursuit of the resources and fuel for this dream for the middle and upper-class portions of its citizens has led to policies that inflict violence and exploitation upon other Americans (residents of North and South America).

This year's theme is "2008: Redefining the American Dream." We call for art that shows the power of everyday people to redefine this country's values and policies. We call for art that offers a vision of new relationships, peaceful and healthy, to the earth and its various ecosystems and communities. We call for art that proclaims your community, family, or cultural dream as being integral to this new American dream.

Artist-Activist Bob Marley instructed us, "Some people have hopes and dreams; some people have ways and means." With a social justice perspective, we see some communities and individuals blocked from access to life-affirming resources, and targeted for quality-of-life-threatening conditions such as job cutbacks, pollution, and profiling. Social change demands we recognize, act on, and change these conditions that adversely affect our communities and others. 2008 is a national election year, many people will be discussing patriotism and how to best express loyalty and concern for the future of the USA. We leave you with an invitation to express your concern by sharing your vision of the best United States possible. Michigan activist Grace Lee Boggs, "America, Love it enough to change it!" We call for art that will encourage the campus community to create public awareness of new possibilities for social justice. Join us in creating a dialogue provoking public awareness that will engage the campus for years to come.

The winning poster design(s) will be widely distributed throughout the University. They will adorn campus offices, bulletin boards, and residence hall rooms for months and years to come.

We hope to:

• Increase the number of U-M students committed to social justice.
• Encourage artists to use art to promote social change.
• Encourage social justice advocates to value art as a communication vehicle.
• Raise campus awareness of social injustice in this nation.
• Elevate social justice to a central commitment of the University of Michigan.

KEY DATES

Deadline for Poster Submissions:
March 28, 2008, 5pm (No late entries accepted)

Information/Resources:
Stop by our table at WinterFest:
Thurs, Jan 24, 4pm - 8pm
2nd floor, Michigan Union

For resources and discussion, go to:
arts.umich.edu/lounge
www.ginsberg.umich.edu

For inspiration, visit The Graphic Imperative exhibit:
40 years of sociopolitical posters
January 11 - 25, 2008
Mon - Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 12-7pm
Slusser Gallery
UM School of Art & Design, North Campus
www.thegraphicimperative.org

Questions? Art4Activism@umich.edu

Announcement of Winning Poster(s):
Fri, April 11, 2008, 4pm
The Rosalie Ginsberg Awards for Service and
Social Action Ceremony
Pendleton Room, Michigan Union

THEME POSSIBILITIES

We look for art that carries a compelling social justice message, has an original design, and can inform or inspire a broad campus audience. Possible themes include:

What impact does the quest for the "American Dream" have on our environment?
Sustainability, ecological footprint, water/energy resources, consumption, pollution

How is diversity viewed in the U.S.?
Religions, cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientation, traditions

How do government policies affect the reality of the "Dream?"
Immigration, healthcare, social security, global warming, foreign policy, education

How is our own version of the "American Dream" shaped?
Our mentors, families, culture, education

How do definitions of "Family" affect the "American Dream?"
Economics, religion, sexuality, culture, policies of marriage/adoption/inheritance and marginalization

GUIDELINES

All winners will be required to add the Ginsberg Center logo and a sponsoring tagline to their poster before printing.

In addition, exhibit material may not:

• Contain false, misleading, or deceptive material,
• Advocate violence or crime,
• Infringe copyright, service mark, title, or slogan,
• State or imply the endorsement of a product or service,
• Support or oppose the election of any person to office or any ballot proposal,
• Contain material which is obscene (as defined by MCL 752.362) or sexually explicit (as defined by MCL 722.673); and as such statutes shall be amended or supplemented.

Eligibility

U of M students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty, and staff are eligible and may submit up to two poster designs.

Medium

Poster Size: 11" x 17", vertical or horizontal orientation
Poster Color: black & white OR full color
Poster Art: Any artistic medium is welcome, but will be exhibited in poster format. Two-dimensional drawing, painting, written words, graphic design, or a photograph of a three-dimensional piece (ceramics, sculpture, fibers, etc.).

Selection Process

A jury of artists and activists from the University and local communities will determine the winning poster(s). Winning design(s) will be made into posters for distribution to campus offices, bulletin boards, and residence halls.

Submission Process

Please submit 11" x 17" color printout and an electronic file of your poster on a CD labeled with your name, email, and phone number. The electronic file should be a high resolution (at least 300 dpi) Adobe Acrobat PDF with embedded fonts if fonts are part of the work.

If you need help submitting your design, please email Art4Activism@umich.edu no later than March 14, 2008.

With each CD submission, please include a print out of your entry, completed printout of the "Submission Form" and a signed Consent Form. For forms and more info, visit www.ginsberg.umich.edu.

Please drop off or mail your submission to arrive no later than 5pm, March 28, 2008 to:
"Redefining the American Dream"
Ginsberg Center
1024 Hill Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3310
Division of Student Affairs

BACKGROUND

The American Dream actually began as a sales pitch—In the 16th and 17th centuries, English businessmen encouraged English men to move west by using three hooks: America as the land of plenty, America as the land of opportunity, and America as the land of destiny.

"I arrived in America thinking the streets were paved with gold. I learned 3 things:
1. The streets were not paved with gold,
2. The streets were not paved at all, and
3. I was expected to pave them."
– Unknown Italian Immigrant

We recognize that the ancestors of most of us living in the United States today played no role in designing the economic, political, and social patterns that founded this nation. Even if they were here, their class, nation of origin, race, or gender probably excluded them from being publicly acknowledged for their work and contributions.

The traditional American Dream is based on the belief that hardworking citizens can better their lives, pay their monthly bills without worry, give their children a start to an even better life and still save enough to live comfortably after they retire. When we take the time to talk to them, we recognize that many communities are still struggling to realize the Dream. The staggering recent increase in raids and deportations has many Latino communities questioning their inclusion in the Dream. To set up a family unit is an aspect of the Dream denied to people in the LGBT community.

Challenges to the American Dream have trickled down to the nation's mainstream. Many middle-income Americans are struggling to realize this dream today—squeezed by rising costs, declining wages, credit-card debt and diminished benefits, with little left over to save for retirement. PARADE magazine did a survey of over 2,000 middle-class American homeowners (with incomes between $30,000 and $99,000 a year). Almost two-thirds say they live from paycheck to paycheck, and almost half (47%) say that no matter how hard they work, they cannot get ahead.

Because of the great identity movements of the 20th century - of workers, African Americans, women, Chicanos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, gays and lesbians, and the differently abled – everyone in this country can contribute to the concept of active citizenship necessary to solve the ecological and social crises that loom just beyond our reach. In this spirit, we reach out to you, to ask your help in redefining the American Dream.

How will you redefine the American Dream in such a way that community or social responsibility is not viewed as a contradiction to economic prosperity? How will you redefine the American Dream in a way that is reflective of your family or community's heritage or struggles? What is your vision of an American ideal that involves, engages, and respects other peoples of the world?