A half dozen Justseeds members had the privilege of being included in this exhibition which was up at the end of 2025 at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. Below is more info about the show from the curators:
Curated by Kyler Lasee & Tyli Scheetz, Presented in collaboration with Fall of Freedom
St. Norbert College, Bush Art Center, Godschalx Gallery, 100 Grant St. De Pere, WI
November 10 – December 12, 2025
It All Matters Now: A Creative Resistance explores freedom of expression and the role of art as a form of dialogue, reflection, and resistance in moments of social and political urgency. It is drawn from St. Norbert College’s permanent art collection and accompanied by new fiber works. The exhibition features pieces that reflect core aspects of identity that individuals may feel pressured to silence or conceal. It affirms that one’s sense of self cannot be whole when any part is repressed, just as a nation cannot truly thrive when the voices of its people are censored or excluded.
In an era of polarization and increasing repression of dissent, this exhibition asserts the vital importance of creative freedom as an act of participation in a democratic society. The works on view address themes of courage of conviction, education, and women’s rights as areas where self-censorship and polarized discourse suppress free expression. For example, the screenprint “Father James Groppi” by Nicolas Lampert and Paul Kjelland depicts a Milwaukee priest who, despite severe backlash, fought for racial equality in the city where he lived. We chose the piece because it represents lifting others up by using your voice. All Work Done with Love has Great Dignity was one work selected because it sheds light on areas of labor that are undervalued, traditionally deemed feminine. Lastly, to draw attention to censorship and banned books in education, we have chosen Study by Pete Railand as an example. The piece’s textual message serves as guidance on how to continue learning in the face of bias, misinformation, and hidden information. These are just three examples of numerous themes surrounding censorship and identity that run through the works selected for this exhibition.
The three fiber works we created exclusively for this exhibition are meant to emphasize the individual’s role in creating a collective identity. The American flag is not only an image but a symbol that solicits a wide variety of responses. By opening the flag to collaboration, we are demonstrating the importance of coming together to construct a unified vision, as the flag is gradually colored over time. Using the image of a fingerprint, an icon of uniqueness, allows each person to come to terms with what being part of America means to them and how they can see themselves fitting in with other beliefs, cultures, and communities.
We invite viewers to approach the exhibition as a space for dialogue rather than division. By bringing together artworks that provoke, question, and connect, It All Matters Now encourages audiences to think critically about freedom, belonging, and shared responsibility. The collaborative flag installation at the exhibition’s center symbolizes the shared task of constructing a democratic identity, one made stronger through difference, debate, and creativity. This exhibition, aligned with the national Fall of Freedom initiative, stands as both a call to awareness and an act of creative resistance, reminding us that democracy and art depend on our willingness to speak, listen, and imagine together.
