Cheap Art
Discover Bread and Puppet's accessible art form, "Cheap Art," and how it can be used as a form of protest and empowerment within communities.
What is Cheap Art?
Cheap Art is meant to be created simply for the joy of creating, not for monetary gain. This artform is meant to challenge fine art, or the "art of privilege" with its sloppy nature and cheap materials (Erstin 2010). Despite being made "poorly," this artform is enriching as it is an accessible outlet for creative, social, and political expression. Cheap Art is used to send a message quickly, simply, and cheaply while nourishing one's soul.
Cheap Art as Protest
Cheap Art is meant to utilize what you already have available to you, such as cardboard, scraps of paper, glue, markers, and whatever else, encouraging you to create without purchasing new supplies. The act of creating Cheap Art actively works against the capitalistic culture that dominates the art world and the United States as a whole. Further, Cheap Art can be used to spread messages, typically as a form of protest. Are there any issues needing addressed within your community? How can you use Cheap Art to uplift voices in your community and spread an important message? If interested in learning more, check out the "Why Cheap Art? Manifesto" below:
