Still waiting, still dreaming – A poster view of the world


By Theresa Hulme

October 2 marked the 15th anniversary celebration of the one-of-a-kind “Center for the Study of Political Graphics.” The Center (CSPG) proudly embraces the largest collection of post-WWII political posters in the US. The eye-popping collection is five times larger than the Library of Congress’ collection, although operating at a fraction of the budget and space.


The celebration, held at LA’s Union Station, was graciously attended by well-known and highly respected guests Dolores Huerta, Lalo Alcaraz and Robert Scheer. The legendary Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America, is a true leader who has been arrested twenty two times for non-violent union activities. Lalo Alcaraz whose hilarious and satirical comic strip ‘La Cucaracha’ began at the LA Weekly and is now nationally syndicated, was the evenings excellent emcee. Award winning journalist Robert Scheer is perhaps the lone and star truth teller in his column at the LA Times. He is also a frequent contributor to The Nation magazine and his latest book is entitled “The Five Biggest Lies Bush Told Us About Iraq.”

The diverse and distinguished panel of guests each conveyed a unique and provocative message to the sympathetic audience seated at round tables, eagerly awaiting inspiration.

Though the honored guests were a pleasure, other highlights enhanced the evening. The catered food was an outstanding array of colorful and mostly healthy California style cuisine. A bottle of wine on every table peacefully co-existed with creative centerpieces featuring miniature versions of eclectic protest posters from decades past and present.

I couldn’t stop looking at my table’s centerpiece which had a womans face juxtaposed over the words “Your body is a battleground!” referring to the never ending attempts of Republicans to rob a woman of her choice. Another featured “Stop the Death Squads in El Salvador and Los Angeles” grimly illustrating a military death squad hovering over dead bodies. A more humorous one features a Native American pointing like Uncle Sam and asking “Who’s the Illegal Alien, Pilgrim?

CSPG has more posters in its archive than could be displayed at the anniversary party but guests were encouraged to bid auction-style on the evenings chosen few posters. It was a lucky evening for me as I won several of my bids: A 1967 poster of Martin Luther King, just before his death, standing and staring dreamily next to his ultra-tidy desk. Prominently displayed in the background above his desk and in accidental perfect alignment with Mr. King’s head is a framed photograph of Gandhi looking peacefully and protectively down on his brother. ‘I Have a Dream’ are the words at the top of the historical image.

A provocative and more recent piece, which was quickly hung in my bathroom, is a phallic depiction of a nuclear missile with dirt and blood covering it above the words “Oil is History.”

CSPG Founder, Executive Director and Venice resident Carol Wells is the driving force behind the Center. Speaking eloquently during the ceremony, she shares with the audience the history and birth of the Center: Twenty-three years ago, she collected her first poster. She was on a trip to Nicaragua studying the art of the Sandinista revolution for a UCLA exhibition opposing US interventions in Central America.

A domino effect took course and in nine years, the exhibition traveled extensively through the US and Canada. “By 1989, there were 3,000 posters under the bed,” laughs Carol. Through generous supporters, the Center now has seven offices and stores more than 50,000 posters.

Primary donors are the numerous individuals who have collected and saved the works, couldn’t throw them away but didn’t know what to do with them. “Our graphics are powerful and assertive, their messages profoundly positive. The Center must remain an independent voice as a resource for the progressive community. With your help, we will continue to educate, agitate and inspire action to create an alternative world, a better world, a world with peace and justice,” says Carol.

With the generous assistance of CSPG volunteers, I am helped out to my car with a new collection of ‘a picture is worth a thousand, or million words’ historical posters. Before I go, I take one last look around the old and beautiful train station and see the words next to a picture of Che Guevara: “Let me say, at the risk of seeming ridiculous, that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love, and is not afraid to laugh.”
It was a nice evening, indeed.

A non-profit organization, CSPG encourages donations and will eagerly accept your old posters and put them to good use. See back page for CSPG posters and contact information.

Posted: Fri - October 1, 2004 at 02:52 PM          

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