Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 3/8/2023
CHICOPEE — Longtime activist Stephen Lewis is presenting an art exhibit showcasing a collection of worldwide posters in support of women’s rights movements at the Chicopee Public Library. The exhibit will run throughout the month of March, tying in with International Women’s Day on March 8.
There is an extensive history behind International Women’s Day. In 1909. The first “National Woman’s Day” was observed in the United States. The day was designated by the Socialist Party of America in honor of a New York workers’ strike focused on poor labor conditions in a local factory.
Over the years, International Women’s Day reached more countries and continued to intersect with other political movements. A 1910 meeting in Copenhagen between 100 women from 17 countries established the basis of an international day of recognition – one that was used to build support for achieving universal suffrage and equality for women. The following year, International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
At the start of World War I, International Women’s Day also tied into protest movements focused on the emerging conflict. Russia’s first International Women’s Day ultimately became a mechanism for protesting the war, according to Lewis’ background information on the exhibit.
It was not until a Charter of the United Nations in 1945 that a principle of quality between women and men was internationally established.
Throughout his activism career, Lewis has collected more than 900 posters on important issues, presenting many of them in a number of public libraries, Boston City Hall and two of the state’s Heritage Parks. Previously, Lewis focused on activism for labor rights movement, formerly serving as the treasurer of his union. He participated in numerous marches to promote labor rights.
His poster collection started decades ago when he attended an international conference in Moscow.
“There was trade unionists from all over the world, and a lot of them brought a stack of posters from their organization and country. They were really great posters and appealed to me. I was a union guy, so all these posters about unions fit right into my interest,” said Lewis in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Years after collecting the posters, Lewis pursued exhibition for these works. Lewis would tie most exhibits together under specific themes highlighted in the posters, with the works representing a plethora of international takes on an important social cause.
His works showcased at the Chicopee Public Library highlight the universal recognition of International Women’s Day. Posters collected from Greece, Pakistan, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, the United States and other countries showcase how nations around the world recognize the important holiday throughout its history.
“The posters are from a number of different countries. One of the things I have always been very supportive of is solidarity with people and the sharing of values across different countries … If I got posters up of labor unions from other countries, people can look in and say, “Wow, they are just like us. They got labor unions there and have some of the same issues,’” said Lewis.
While Lewis admits to not possessing artistic skills, he does see the value in art as “one of a number of tools” for activism.
“It exposes [people] to the issues or the actions that are happening through the posters,” said Lewis.
Lewis hopes the exhibit gives patrons a deep understanding and appreciation of women’s perseverance over the course of history.
“They will see what women have faced … The background of all these posters is March 8 is International Women’s Day, but it also points out that women have been victims of violence and discrimination. There’s art involved, there’s history involved and there’s a message involved in the posters,” said Lewis.
The exhibit was supported by a grant from the Chicopee Cultural Council.
Readers can learn more about the Chicopee Public Library and its programing at https://www.chicopeepubliclibrary.org/.