Happy summer days from all of us at Studio Two Three!
Summer is in full swing and we are slogging along through the Richmond humidity. We’ve been busy with lots of big and exciting projects–– some we can’t share just yet and others that you can read more about below!
STRONGER TOGETHER: STUDIO TWO THREE SUPPORTS COMMUNITY VACCINATION
In 2021 we received support from the CDC Foundation to use the power of printmaking and the arts to combat vaccine hesitancy in Richmond. Since then, we’ve been busy hosting community printmaking events with Richmond Public Schools and local community partners, collaborating with local artists on a public awareness campaign and producing age-appropriate coloring zines on the importance of vaccination for children.
While the contours and details of the COVID-19 pandemic have changed dramatically over the course of the grant period, the importance of focused efforts to support community vaccination remains the same. As parents of children in Richmond Public Schools, we strive for a future where our kids can be safely unmasked and back together, without interruption, so that they can experience the full benefits of what our educational system has to offer. We know that that future will only become a reality when our children are vaccinated against COVID.
Our large-scale banners are currently being printed thanks to the generosity of Richmond Pro Lab and will be installed in the coming weeks! Keep your eyes peeled for them in neighborhoods across the city–– you might recognize some familiar faces.
If you have a young child who is curious about or wants to learn more about vaccination, you can download our fun coloring zine in English or Spanish by clicking the photos below, or pick one up for free in our newspaper box! If you have personal concerns about the efficacy or safety of COVID-19 vaccination, give them a read.
ABORTION RIGHTS
If you’re still receiving our newsletter, you likely haven’t unfollowed us for our unequivocal support of abortion rights. Thank you for standing with us in this necessary and ongoing fight for reproductive justice.
On June 24, we were proud to show up at the capitol in the wake of the Dobb decision for a pop-up community print day. We produced t-shirts, giant letterpress banners and handed out over 1,500 Abortion Rights risographed posters. We’ve been proud to see these posters in the streets and in shop and home windows and continue to keep them stocked in our newspaper box outside of the studio. Grab one if you haven’t been able to yet :-)
We’ve also released these t-shirts and flags in our shop, with proceeds going to the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project (Virginia’s Reproductive/Racial Justice aligned grassroots abortion fund). Thanks to your purchases, we’ve been able to raise $3,300 for their great work. Please consider donating to them directly or grabbing a shirt or flag today to support. If you’re unsure of where Virginia stands, here’s a quick low-down:
photos courtesy of Brian Palmer
Although Roe V Wade has been overturned at the federal level, abortion is still legal and accessible in Virginia. This is not the case for some of our surrounding state neighbors–– including West Virginia— who need our support.
Our current state leadership have stated their intentions to work toward an abortion ban. Pro-choice officials currently hold a narrow majority in the state Senate, but we anticipate that this will be a key issue moving into 2023 elections and expect a struggle to maintain control of the statehouse. The work that we all do right now– the hard conversations, boots-on-the-ground organizing and volunteering and direct donations to reproductive justice initiatives and overtly pro-choice candidates–– will directly impact abortion access in our state, come 2023.
As a print shop, we have the power to disseminate accurate and timely information and to utilize our tools to generate income for local abortion funds and other reproductive health initiatives. We will continue to do so during this pivotal moment for women and individuals in need of reproductive healthcare across our state. Holler if we can support your long-vision organizing work toward this end.
CULTURE WORKS GRANT
We are excited to announce that we’ve been awarded a Richmond CultureWorks Cultural Equity Grant to support our Open Studio Program! This program provides artists with 12 months of free 24/7 studio membership, materials stipends, free biweekly classes on printmaking techniques and 1-on-1 support from artist mentors. Open Studio is designed for low-wealth, LGBTQIA & BIPOC artists, with intentionality to remove barriers to participation. Our first cohort is wrapping up - please stay tuned for more information on the next opportunity! The Cultural Equity Grants Program is partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)/ American Rescue Plan (ARP).
FUN TIMES! COME HANG WITH THE STUDIO CREW!
Join us on Thursday, July 21st for an evening at the Byrd theater with Studio Two Three and RVA Home Team!
Put on your best 80’s throwback attire and get your Reese’s Pieces dollars ready! Our friends at RVA Home Team have booked the Byrd Theater for a fun, family-friendly screening of the 1983 classic, E.T the Extra Terrestrial!
Costume Contest: Dress as a character from E.T, or Stranger Things, or whatever 80’s sci-fi romp tickles your fancy. Contest winners get a framed, limited-edition E.T. print, S23 swag bag, a $50 S23 gift card, and eternal glory.
Raffle: All ticket holders are entered into a raffle to win a limited-edition framed ET print and a $50 Studio Two Three gift card.
Please come, support the studio with your ticket purchases and dress to impress! All ticket sales benefit Studio Two Three and are tax-deductible.