Last week, eight artists featured in the “Bay Area Now 9” exhibit at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts altered their own artistic works live during a public YBCA show to speak out against the art institution’s silence on the on-going genocide in Palestine and to demand an end to YBCA’s censorship of artists calling for a #Ceasefire in Gaza. On this week’s episode, we speak to two of those artists, Iranian-born interdisciplinary sound artist Sholeh Asgary and queer Filipinx artist, filmmaker, and educator champoy about why they chose to take such bold action against YBCA and in support of a free Palestine, how they hope their action emboldens other artists, and how the public can support the artists’ demands. We also listen in to a few moments at YBCA, including a speech from Palestinian muralist Chris Gazaleh. 

You can find the artists whose voices you hear on this podcast on IG at @sholehasgary, @champchampchampoy, and @c.gazaleh. We also reference quotes from artists @Kilns and @Bluekaza. 

Send an email to YBCA to support the artists’ demands here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-ybca-stop-censoring-art-for-palestine