05/16/2024
**Call to Action for Musicians and Change-Maker Artists**
Dear Artists and Innovators,
In an age where the aesthetics of change are often marketed more vigorously than the implementation of it, we urge you to look deeper. The glossy ads and socially conscious branding campaigns are compelling, but we must ask: Who crafts the beauty that we so often take for granted?
It’s time to challenge the narrative set by account managers and marketing professionals. These narratives, though progressive in tone, frequently mask the realities of those who work behind the scenes—the skilled laborers and craftsmen whose hands and hard work make our artistic visions tangible.
Too often, when financial pressures mount, it is not those who appear in the campaign photos who face the repercussions; it is the master printers, the diligent workers toiling in obscurity, ensuring that each piece of art meets the highest standards of quality. They are the unsung heroes of our industry, yet they are also the first to bear the brunt of corporate cutbacks.
We call on you, the musicians, the poets of change, to recognize and advocate for these essential contributors. When partnering with companies, ask about the artisans printing your work. Inquire into their working conditions, their job security, and their well-being. It is not enough for a company to claim they are different; they must show it through genuine equity and respect for all workers, regardless of their credentials or titles.
Let us envision a future where every artist, every musician, not only praises the quality of their finished products but also the quality of life provided to those who produce them. Stand for those who make your art possible. Demand transparency and fairness. Let your voice be one that truly champions humanity and justice in every note you play and every word you sing.
Together, we can craft a world where recognition and respect are afforded to every hand involved—not just those that hold the camera but also those that press the print.
Yours in solidarity,
[Joshua Kinnear, A poor, radically passionate screenprinter]
