NICOLE MACDONALD
Justice Work
THEME: A MORE PERFECT UNION
Justice Work
THEME: A MORE PERFECT UNION
Nicole Macdonald
the artist's inspiration
I was born and raised in Detroit, a heavily industrialized city once characterized as “The arsenal of democracy” during WWII. People came here from across the nation, and the world, seeking a better future.
It has a unique history which includes the birth of the automobile and a place where workers organized unions in an effort to seek economic justice, a center in the struggle for worker’s rights, of people seeking better working conditions and dignity as human beings.
For me, as an artist, it’s been the fuel of inspiration for a lot of my work. And that is what I thought about when I thought of creating a work for the theme A More Perfect Union. I thought of the journey that we have been on as a city and community over the years and the people who have contributed to it. That’s what you see in Justice Work. I wanted to honor some incredible activists who have contributed to real changes in how we live and how we think about work.
CAPITOL PARK, detroit
june 2024
General Gordon Baker - General worked in Detroit’s automotive factories in the 1960s and knew first-hand what it meant to work in hazardous conditions. He co-founded the organization DRUM (Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement) and the League of Revolutionary Black Workers. As he once told me, “Black people had to work the dirtiest, most deadly jobs.” This was why he dedicated his life to the labor movement.
Marian Kramer - Marian says she was inducted into the Civil Rights Movement as a child and it continued her entire life. Early on she joined CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and later, when she moved to Detroit, she became increasingly focused on public housing and welfare rights. This led her to found, and currently co-chair National Welfare Rights Union, where she worked for fair housing, healthy environments and safe and affordable water for poor and working class communities.
Maureen Taylor - Maureen has spent her life advocating and fighting for the rights of the poor. She is the state chair of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization and has often worked arm in arm with Marian Kramer. She believes that poor and working class people should be empowered with the ability to advocate for themselves. Among her other accomplishments, she led mass mobilizations against water shut offs in Detroit, which ultimately led to significant changes in how the water company related to poor people.
Jamon Jordan - Jamon is the Official Historian of Detroit. As a teacher who also leads guided tours of historical sites around the city, he tells our stories — of how uncelebrated people have created progress and change in Detroit. Jamon reinvents and enriches what work means and can be, for himself and for the people he educates.
These voices and actors for change represent vasts movements that I have tried to honor on the sculpture through small snapshots: in those campaigning for meaningful and healthy jobs, in Jamon holding a picture of the working class neighborhood of Black Bottom that was destroyed by the city in the early 1960s, in UAW protests for increased pensions and the references to the Poor People’s Campaign.
the artist's inspiration
I’m a lifetime Detroiter - born and raised here. This city has provided me with a lifetime of fascination - from its hidden histories to its people, who make it a super creative place and always speak their mind. I’m always learning and finding out more things to be appreciative of in this city.
For me, as an artist, it’s been the fuel of inspiration for a lot of my work. And that is what I thought about when I thought of creating a work for the theme A More Perfect Union. I thought of the journey that we have been on as a city and community over the years and the people who have contributed to it. That’s what you see in Justice Work.
NICOLE MACDONALD
The place of her birth, Detroit, is at the forefront of Nicole’s artistic practice. Her murals and large-scale public installations focus on telling the stories of Detroiters, sharing city history and neighborhood empowerment. They embody her social engagement and expression from the ‘ground up’, as do her award-winning documentaries, including the PBS-screened Last Days of Chinatown about the development of the Cass Corridor neighborhood. In the past, she was co-director of the Detroit Film Center and worked with the Prison Creative Arts Project, which focused on visual arts as a means of healing for incarcerated women and juveniles in Southeast Michigan.
Let's make our shared ideals a reality. For everyone.
Detroit and the concept of work are inseparable - the very structure of this city has been built on the rise of the automotive industry. People came from across the nation to seek a better future here. But it is also a city where a lot of the blueprint of the city was built to serve industry - and not the people. And so Detroit has also been a major centre for the struggle of worker’s rights, of people organizing for better conditions and environments that speak to their dignity as human beings.
Through Justice Work, I wanted to honor some incredible activists and changemakers who have contributed to real changes in how we work and how we think about work.
General Gordon Baker - General worked in Detroit’s automotive factories in the 1960s and knew first-hand what it meant to work in hazardous conditions. He co-founded the organization DRUM (Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement) and the League of Revolutionary Black Workers. As he often told me - Black people had to work the dirtiest, most deadly jobs. This was why he dedicated his life to the labor movement. His knowledge and wisdom was only matched by his big heart.
Marian Kramer - Marian says she was inducted into the Civil Rights Movement at five years old and her life has been proof of it. Early on she joined the leading Civil Rights Movement organization CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and then, when she moved to Detroit, she became increasingly involved with public housing and welfare rights. This led her to found and currently be cochair of the National Welfare Rights Union, having connected to countless organizations working for fairer housing, healthy environments and safe and affordable water for poor and working class communities.
Maureen Taylor - Maureen has spent her life advocating and fighting for the rights of the poor. Maureen is the state chair of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization and has often worked arm in arm with Marian. She believes that poor and working class people should be empowered with the ability to advocate for themselves. She led mass mobilizations against water shut offs in Detroit, essential to guarding that human right.
Let's make our shared ideals a reality. For everyone.
Jamon Jordan - Jamon is the Official Historian of Detroit. I’ve included him because at his core he is an educator who has lit the light of learning for countless Detroiters, both as a teacher and his guided tours. I believe he is a really important figure for us for two reasons. The first is that the tells our stories and the stories of how people have created progress and change in Detroit, who are often not celebrated enough. And the second is that Jamon reinvents what work means and can be, for himself and for the people he educates. I appreciate him as he enriches our work.
These voices and actors for change represent vasts movements that I have tried to honor on the sculpture through small snapshots, in those campaigning for green jobs; in Jamon holding pictures from the protests of 15 years ago; in UAW protests for increased pensions and the references to the Poor People’s Campaign
Nicole’s “If I could tell you just one thing…”
Stand up - for yourself and for what you believe. Some people will tell you protesting and organizing won’t work. But protesting and organizing has helped end wars and change laws. The reality of our lives would be much worse if it weren’t for those who protested things that offend our dignity and humanity and organized for a better reality. It is always worth it, even if change isn’t immediate or obvious. It will come.
explore the theme
explore the theme
Let's make our shared ideals a reality. For everyone.
NICOLE MACDONALD
The place of her birth, Detroit, is at the forefront of Nicole’s artistic practice. Her murals and large-scale public installations focus on telling the stories of Detroiters, sharing city history and neighborhood empowerment. They embody her social engagement and expression from the ‘ground up’, as do her award-winning documentaries, including the PBS-screened Last Days of Chinatown about the development of the Cass Corridor neighborhood. In the past, she was co-director of the Detroit Film Center and worked with the Prison Creative Arts Project, which focused on visual arts as a means of healing for incarcerated women and juveniles in Southeast Michigan.
For everyone. For you. By all of us. Join us.
For everyone. For you.
By all of us. Join us.
PURPOSE
in our relationship with ourselves.
WORTHINESS
I am worthy of love dignity and respect.
AWARENESS
I know how I see the world and where it comes from.
BELIEF
I believe I have something valuable to offer.
PURPOSE
I know what inspires me and what I want to do.
