Last Wednesday, December 13, the SEIU 1021 Social and Economic Justice Committee hosted an exciting event at the San Francisco union hall. The event featured a panel discussion with Ken Grossinger, author of the recently published ”Art Works: How Organizers and Artists Are Creating a Better World Together;” Mike Richardson, SEIU 1021 communications specialist and artist; Claire Rabkin, an Oakland-based artist who has supported the Fight for $15 and a Union campaign; and Maria Maldonado, Fight for $15 and a Union field director.

During Grossinger’s presentation of his new book, he shared examples of how artists have thought outside the box and used public forums, like the walls of abandoned buildings, to call attention to problems and cultivate public outrage and consequently political will to address those problems.

“I wanted to write a book that was mostly the current period but also a little bit historically about the relationship between art, culture, and politics and how it’s lifted up our organizing, so that it becomes a model for others that are not yet doing it,” said Grossinger as he explained his motivations for writing the book. 

“There is a lot of work being done in community organizations using art and culture. But it isn’t happening at the scale it needs to. So if we want to win, we need to figure out how to scale it.”

Richardson, Rabkin, and Maldonado shared examples of how artwork had played roles in union organizing campaigns. The panel took questions from the audience, and the event closed out with a book giveaway and signing. Participants also got to take home Fight for $15 artwork.