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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Politics will probably always be something that sparks disputes, but visitors at the Walpole Public Library’s Community Room can all agree that Stephen Lewis’s collection of international political posters is both interesting and impressive. The exhibit, titled “Art For a Cause,” features a couple dozen of political posters from around the world. The posters will be on display during library hours until September 28.
Even without a hint of knowledge of some of the languages printed on the posters, the unique and striking artwork drew visitors in to get a closer look at each poster. With posters from the United States, Canada, Spain, France, Scandinavia, and a handful of other destinations from around the world, the poster collection offered a political glimpse from each culture.
An American poster with text from Pastor Martin Niemoeller sends a powerful message to readers.
One American poster showed a variety of grays, blues, greens, browns, and reds form a mosaic-looking tree with an urban setting below. Orange mosaic blocks formed the border of the poster, with symbols of different faiths lining the sides and letters on top formed the words “Interfaith Worker Justice.”
Another poster drew in viewers with the outline of a circle bolded in red ink and chunky black letters over it. “Sverge ett nytt Spanien,” the poster read. For the majority of visitors at the Walpole Public Library, the placard beside the poster was essential to understand it. The poster, originally from Sweden, reads “Sweden a new Spain” in English.
The gentle colors and mosaic inspired design of the poster enhance the artistic elements of political poster design.
At the front of the Community Room, an American poster titled “They first came for” drew the attention of visitors. With an image of a rose intertwined with barbed wire bringing pops of color to the otherwise black-and-white poster, the text from Pastor Martin Niemoeller, a Nazi victim, sent a message to speak up against wrongdoings.
The collection featured many posters from France, including one with the slogan “Nous Sommes Charlie,” a part of the “I am Charlie” statement that reverberated around the world after the Charlie Hebdo attack in 2015. Next to the red poster with a hand gripping a pencil was a Canadian poster encouraging viewers to join the Young Socialists. Above the crowd of people in the poster, “We are the people our parents warned us about!” was painted on a brick wall.
The bright reds used in the posters draw in viewers.
Although the exhibit did not necessarily explain the history behind some of the posters, viewers were enchanted by the artwork and messages some of the posters featured, and were eager to brush up on their international political knowledge when they got home.
In addition to serving as important historical and political documents, the posters also provided viewers with a greater appreciation for art and the power of design.
