Manifest Hope:DC (website) – watch trailer
Al Gragg’s Manifest Hope DC documents the grassroots art movement inspired by Barack Obama’s candidacy. Shot primarily at the opening of the Manifest Hope temporary gallery in Washington DC, the film features interviews with artists, musicians and community organizers set against a driving soundtrack and live performances, intercut with animation. It is really exciting to hear from the artists about their creative processes and to see how their conscious and unconscious minds expressed their feeling about Obama and the central issues of the progressive/liberal movement.
Manifest Hope DC celebrates the influence of punk rock, hip hop and the DYI aesthetic in the art as people during the campaign took charge and did what they could, creating art, placing art and talking about the power of art to make a difference.
Yes, at the Manifest Hope gallery there were many, many pieces featuring Obama, but what comes though in the artwork and in Manifest Hope DC more than just “OBAMA!” is that campaign inspired hope for affordable health care, renewable energy, the return of our troops, better education, civil equality…All these are goals we should continue to strive for, goals we should to continue to speak up for and act towards.
Art is action and action can be artistic. That is what comes across so clearly in Manifest Hope DC, that making an effort can manifest hope. Hope combined with action makes change. We still have hope, let’s act together to make the changes we voted for.
Tags: Alfred Gragg, Manifest Hope:DC, Obama
