The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis’ new Stories of Resistance exhibit takes a multifaceted approach to depicting resistance and its many forms across the world. It includes video, photography, drawing, sculpture and painted installations by 19 artists.
It also includes the museum’s first podcast. “Radio Resistance” is an 11-episode production that features conversations between exhibiting artists, local activists, scholars and politicians delving into St. Louis’ role in activism, and activism more broadly.
“My job as an educator is really to think about how to help people connect, and in particular, in the exhibition Stories of Resistance, how to listen to those stories,” explained podcast co-producer Michelle Dezember. “We wanted to really think about how to hear those rich connections to the history and context of resistance and protest work here in St. Louis. And so we really thought about the form of radio as being … this ability to have a conversation, for it to feel very intimate.”
Dezember, who is also CAM’s director of learning and engagement, said one of the episodes will feature Congresswoman Cori Bush.
“We had a really incredible conversation with her that really is unlike anything else I've seen her do in any of her conversations on TV or radio,” Dezember said.
Selections of “Radio Resistance” will air on St. Louis on the Air biweekly on Wednesdays starting March 24, with the full episode being released the following day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.
Dezember said the format is a break from the museum’s virtual artist talks and a more accessible way to highlight the exhibit.
Other podcast episodes will highlight Harry Edwards, the man behind the Black Power protest at the 1968 Olympics, artist and activist De Nichols and author and Harvard professor Walter Johnson.
Take a listen to the introductory episode here.
Related Event
What: Stories of Resistance exhibit
When: March 12 through Aug. 15
Where: Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108)
“St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is hosted by Sarah Fenske and produced by Alex Heuer, Emily Woodbury, Evie Hemphill and Lara Hamdan. The audio engineer is Aaron Doerr.
