Folding Chair Collective

Introductory video

Folding Chair Collective

In response to the current political climate, I put out
a call-for-art to my artist friends and associates.
Reflecting upon a quote, by Shirley Chisholm (see below),
the artists used the structure of a folding chair upon which
to build a commentary representing their range of concerns.

Contributing Artists

Anne Brecher-Bogart     Anne Doris-Eisner     Barbara Boeck     Barbara Ringer
Bob Becker     Social Action Committee/Cliffside Nursing Home     Elena Grossman
Elizabeth Helling     Elizabeth White     Florence Tannenbaum
Gayle White     Gregg Ziebell     Holly Hawthorn     Tom Berntsen
Jane Fleischner     Jeanne D. Shaw     Jim Felice     Lynne Knobel

Excerpted from New Haven Independent Ely Center Rocks The Block 10/3/2022 by Brian Slattery

Outside, booths included art projects like the Folding Chair Collective, formed in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June. “This affront to women’s rights had me absolutely speechless,” said Bethel-based artist and organizer Elizabeth White, and she wanted to do something. Her husband and fellow artist Bob Becker had always taken inspiration from Shirley Chisholm, who, through her career as a politician — serving seven terms in the House of Representatives for the district centered on Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, from 1969 to 1983 — considered herself “unbought and unbossed,” and had an expression: “when you’re not invited to the table, bring a folding chair.” “The idea is, if you’re not feeling represented, represent yourself,” Becker said

Chisholm’s quote about the folding chair “just stuck with me,” White said, “and I couldn’t get rid of it. I haven’t been able to do anything but this — it’s just got a hold of me now. So I thought I’d just put out a call and see if it resonates with anyone else.”About a dozen artists answered the call (“and it’s growing,” said Becker), and White decided to call it the Folding Chair Collective.

I don’t want anything too precious because I’m going to need to be able to throw these in the back of a car.” “I’m happy with other people feeling that way about it, too, ” White said. “I’m just going to do it until I can’t do it any more.” (Anyone interested in hosting the Folding Chair Collective can contact White and Becker at [email protected].

Excerpted from Arts Council Greater New Haven
Ely Center Block Party Rules The Road 10/4/2022 Lindsay Skedgell

Everywhere a person looked, there was art and art-making. Halfway down the block, pieces from the nascent, Bethel-based Folding Chair Collective peeked out with political messaging, pro-choice slogans, and a variety of inspirational quotes.

The collective was born earlier this year, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June. The collective is a tribute to seven-term congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, who said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair!” (Chisholm, who was the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first to seek a presidential nomination, famously said this about not just misogyny but also racism). To create and gather the chairs, E. White put out an open call to artists.

“If they don’t give you a place at the table, bring a folding chair" - Shirley Chisholm

Dear Bob Becker:

We, the members of the Social Action Committee (SAC), wish to say thank you for your assistance with our nursing home No Bed Hold campaign.

We made copies of the pictures you sent to us. We put together 10 sets, one for each member in our group, we reviewed and discussed them. We then agreed to include a picture in all our networking outreach correspondence materials.

We also agreed to make a poster size picture and put it on each floor on a significant wall.

Again, thank you.
Stay safe!

Social Action Committee:
T. Williams    G. Oviedo    H. Raymond
N. Gooden    M. Young    D. G. Forrester
P. Meletiche, L. Walker    Jr.     S. Osbourne
T. L. Simpson