Arlington Arts Center presents: You, if no one else

“Listen, you
who transformed your anguish
into healthy awareness,
put your voice
where your memory is.
You who swallowed
the afternoon dust,
defend everything you understand
with words.
You, if no one else,
will condemn with your tongue
the erosion each disappointment brings.”
— From You, if no one else by Tino Villanueva

Arlington Arts Center is pleased to announce the opening of You, if no one else, on January 20, 2018 from 6-9pm. Featuring ten contemporary artists and artist collaborations, You, if no one else, looks at the ways in which artists record, reflect, contribute to, rail against, and engage with politics and civic life, bringing dialogue, beauty, and nuance to their involvement in the public sphere. The title of the exhibition was inspired by poet Tino Villanueva, whose poem of the same name was included in his 1994 collection Chronicle of My Worst Years.

The artists included in the exhibition engage with communities, contribute to civic discourse, document political activity, highlight social injustice, and incorporate the architecture of political protest into their work. At a time of substantial turbulence, You, if no one else champions the role artists can play in supporting and expanding our democratic traditions and political institutions.

Click here to download the full press release.