In their long and arduous search for a career path, students seem to be forgetting one option—radical activism. Sure, it’s not exactly the job your parents envisioned you working, but being an activist has its perks. Think about it: there are no strict work hours, stuffy cubicles or annoying co-workers. Luckily for D.C., the Provisions Library provides a perfect opportunity to learn about this intriguing calling.
Located in Dupont Circle, Provisions Library is advertised as a resource for art and social change. Provisions’ “social change” collection ranges from activist books and periodicals to socially conscious art exhibits and film screenings. The purpose of the library is to expose and challenge visitors who are new to activism with ideas and experiences that can lead to such social change. The owners also want to aid those who are involved in radical social activism to gather the resources they need to continue their efforts
Tucked away above Ann Taylor Loft, Provisions Library is inconspicuous and wholly unexpected. There is no sign on the street heralding its existence, and its white walls and office-style carpeting would fit at any law firm in D.C. The leather armchairs and the brick fireplace make Provisions feel less like a library and more like a living room. Unlike most buildings in the city, visitors can come and go freely without question or metal detectors.
The titles inside range from journals like Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture to books like Dr. Seuss Goes to War and Jon Stewart’s America. Some of the more interesting works include “how-to” guides to activism and DIY ‘zines that turn up in random corners of the library. Although many of these are prominently displayed, they are not as accessible to the new visitor as Provisions would hope. With a focus as broad as “social change,” the esoteric topics presented here leave new visitors feeling lost.
While the literature isolates the virgin activist from the veteran community of social change, the artwork draws him into it. Although Provisons does not currently have a special exhibition, the selected pieces of their rotating permanent collections are thought-provoking. Haphazardly displayed, these works lack the continuity and coherence that a standard exhibit would provide, yet the pieces manage to serve as a good introduction to social activism.
The images of slavery in Betye Saar’s collages remind viewers of an era our country is trying to forget. Pat Autenrieth’s quilted chaos, “Rant,” is purposefully over-stimulating. It is covered in layers of bold commercial phrases that overpower more personal narratives, including one woman’s story of sexual assault.
The library’s artwork primes the visitor for social questioning to which the literature can add depth. This complementary relationship between the art and literature of the library begins to foster its goal of creating an activist community, whether anyone else knows it or not.
Provisions Library is located at 1611 Connecticut Ave. NW
http://www.provisionslibrary.org/index.php
Editor’s Note (c. 2015): The author of this piece has retroactively requested anonymity. Please contact Editor@GeorgetownVoice.com with any questions.
