A new exhibit at the Walpole Public Library can best be described as “Art that wears its politics on its sleeve.”
The exhibit consists of posters from several countries, and the causes they espouse are many. Posters on display are about issues like the Spanish Civil War, migration, anti-fascism, Angolan independence, censorship and other subjects. In addition to the subject matter, viewers are treated to art styles from many artists, and many countries.
These posters are part of 6800 posters in the collection of Stephen Lewis, a retired trade union activist. He has been gathering posters in many countries over the past 20 years, and been sharing them with the general public for the past 15 years. Stephen has exhibited at a number of public libraries in Massachusetts and two of the state Heritage parks. He has presented at the annual conference of the National Council on Public History, and on some cable television programs. This is his second exhibit at the Walpole Public Library. His exhibits have been well received by many library patrons.
Lewis describes the exhibit as “a bit of art, a bit of message and a bit of history.” Around 30 posters will be on display from September 2 through September 28.
Even if people are not familiar with the issues, the various styles of graphic art should interest people who view the exhibit. This is an opportunity to view artistic expression that is as varied as the themes of the posters.
More of Mr. Lewis’s posters are also being shown a short drive away at the Boyden Library in Foxborough. The theme of the exhibit there is “Freedom of the Press.” This exhibit is focused on the one issue, and many of the posters are from Journalists Without Frontiers, which Mr. Lewis visited three years ago in Paris.
