Art, Beer, and Social Commentary: Part II

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By Joshua Croke

My labels—Queer. Nonbinary. Artist.

When Redemption Rock engaged me a few months back to do a design for their crowler art program, I was excited, as artists are, to be given the opportunity to share my voice. I’ve done a lot of work with the team at Redemption Rock through Love Your Labels, a nonprofit I co-founded that supports queer and trans youth in our community. As an AMAB nonbinary, queer activist and artist, I imagined part of the motivation for Redemption Rock engaging me for their August/September crowler design was due to the fact that, usually, September is when we celebrate Pride month in Worcester. In the before times, we’d have the parade and events that celebrate our LGBTQ+ community and continue ongoing conversations of advocacy and activism needed to elevate our community in American society.

An early concept for this collage was to celebrate activism in the city throughout our history, including women’s rights, civil rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. In July, it was a humbling experience to be able to support all the people involved with realizing the vision of the Black Lives Matter mural in the city. Seeing this incredible outpouring of energy, time, artistry, and community reminded me that while it is important to celebrate the successes of our past, we are in a critical time right now where work that is being done to address inequities in our world needs to be front and center. I saw Matt capturing these historic moments in our community with his camera and connected with him about this piece that was due a few days following the creation of the mural.

“Covering the #BLM protests is much different from covering past protests. You can sense the energy and passion in the demonstrators: people from all walks of life are angry and frustrated with the racism and corruption that’s so entrenched into our culture. My only hope is that we can harness this momentum and focus it to create the positive changes we so desperately need.” — Matt Wright

My labels—White. Designer. Activist.

The Black Lives Matter movement is the outcome of 400 years of white people not listening, of not taking an anti-racism stance, and not challenging and changing the systems that have been so impacted by racism. I’m not a full-time artist. I’m a community design consultant that works with organizations to reimagine broken systems. From public education to juvenile justice, it can seem easier to address some of the issues within these systems — getting more kids Chromebooks, reducing the number of kids in juvenile detention, etc. (also very important work). But often, people don’t want to look deeper into the root causes of why these systems disproportionately impact black Americans and people of color.

Racism is a white people problem, and as white people, we need to talk about it more; with friends and family while having a beer, with coworkers, and with city leadership (vote in local elections!). We need to encourage uncomfortable conversations that can lead to necessary changes in our society centered around inclusion, equity, and belonging. And we need to come together to demand systems-wide change (and if we need to get rid of and completely reimagine some of these systems, I’m here for that too). 

Art is a powerful, visual tool to encourage some of this work, but it doesn’t accomplish all of the work. As I created this piece, I spoke with Em Quiles throughout the process; she was a leader and instrumental player in organizing the BLM mural and is also curating an exhibit with ArtsWorcester called Beyond the Paint that celebrates the artwork of artists who supported the lead BLM Mural artists (all lead BLM mural artists and supporting artists in the Beyond the Paint exhibit linked below).

“Worcester is home to many artists from diverse backgrounds. I want to be part of the conversation that challenges the status quo and think about how arts organizations in the city can foster relationships with BIPOC artists that are inclusive and equitable. The mural was not only an expression of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement but, in a city that has been facing gentrification, it was another way for local artists to say we are here, we’ve been here, and we belong in these spaces. This is our city.” - Em Quiles.

I’m happy to talk with people about the negative impacts of gentrification when growth strategy is not rooted in inclusive, equitable, and home-grown development processes—especially in places where disinvestment from historically black and POC communities have occurred alongside other forms of economic oppression that push people out of their homes and neighborhoods in the process of “growth,” but that’s a whole different post (here’s my email).

I’m not an artist of color, and this piece brought on a conversation with the Redemption Rock team as to how we can continue to be better, continue to speak up, and continue to use the platforms we have to take action. If I were engaged by a different brewery, I probably wouldn’t have presented this design. I don’t want this to be seen as a performative action. I know the team and their commitment to social justice work, and I truly believe in their ability to continue this work and trust the action doesn’t stop here. The commission for this piece went to to support a local POC photographer and the rest of the commission, as well as a portion of the proceeds from sales of this crowler, are going to a new fund Em Quiles and I are working on to support local BIPOC artists now and in the future. 

I hope this piece makes people think while they drink. 

You can get in touch with me at JoshuaCroke.com.

Lead Artists of BLM Mural

B - @nikkisees_world Nicole Mauré Coleman

L - @rinnaxo Sharinna Travieso

A - @breakupsauce Rushelle Frazier

C - @cocascreations/@the.codega Coca Shahed

K - @theworcesterworkshop Khalil Guzman-Jerry

L - @therealnuelement Kristian Rodriguez

I - @blazediaz508 Blaze Diaz

V - @tigga_tattz Tiger Tattz

E - @artifaktstudios Ryan Gardell

S - @savy.thegreat.art Savonne Pickett

M - @hanhanmorgan

A - @fabe_fsa William Thompson

T - @chellemoiselle Richelle Gray

T - @guitars_n_gang_signs Dwayne Raheem Glave

E - @eamontron Eamon Gillen

R - @yerenemy Ferdinand Nazario

Supporting Artists in Beyond the Paint Exhibit at ArtsWorcester

  • Amora Andino (@empress_amora)

  • Mr. Boom (@mrboom2013)

  • Jennessa Burks (@jennessa_art)

  • Joshua Croke (@joshua.croke)

  • Slim Dawg (@destroyinglife)

  • Narvicto DeJesus (@narvicto)

  • Brian Denahy

  • Fogger

  • Alexandra Marie (@avart_andjewelry)

  • Olivia Melendez

  • Emma Mesa-Melendez (@etnica.ds)

  • Arli Ortiz (@3sistersartstudiomass)

  • Edmy Ortiz (@edmyortiz)

  • Jailene Ramos (@jailenerainbows)

  • Edgardo Rodriguez

  • Laura Evonne Steinman (@colorles)

  • Amber Torterelli (@wtfnowamber)