Art and activism take center stage at RESIST!, a bold all-media group show opening on Friday, June 6, at Art Hive in Staunton.
Featuring a dynamic lineup of visual art, live music, poetry, stamp art, hands-on poster making, battle jacket workshops and community energy, RESIST! invites attendees to experience art as a tool for expression, resistance and connection.
“This is more than an art show — it’s a space for people to gather, create, and be heard. We want people to feel inspired, energized and welcomed,” Hive Mistress and Resist! Curator Kirsten Schneider said.
The exhibition brings together artists from across the region who work in painting, mixed media, mail art, textiles, writing and even duct tape — each exploring themes of protest, justice, endurance, and collective power. Attendees are encouraged to join in with a drop-in protest poster station, music throughout the evening and refreshments.
LIVE music from Mike Hasty will add to the event’s creative buzz. Known for his passionate style on guitar and harmonica, Hasty plays a vibrant mix of classic rock, country, folk, Americana and occasional originals. A local artist from Luray, his sound will bring both soul and grit to the evening.
Also joining the event is Eleagnus – a 2 piece art-dance-punk-slam poetry band hailing from the alluvial plains of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They write songs about their experiences of building community and connections to land within the throws of late stage capitalism run amuck. Eleagnus combine playful rhythms and melodies with cheeky lyrics to present difficult conversations with upbeat music that hopes to get you moving your body, which they believe is a revolutionary act.
The Battle Jacket Project will offer a free workshop during the event, which will celebrate and document DIY punk material culture through community-building activities. The project is a unique opportunity to learn about the history and spirit of punk fashion while creating something from your own jacket.
Advocacy groups will also be on site, including the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center and the Democratic Party, offering information and resources on how to get involved in ongoing community efforts for equity, inclusion and civic engagement.
“RESIST! is about the many ways art speaks up and pushes back. Whether it’s a painting, a poem or a protest sign, every piece in this show reminds us that creative expression is essential to social change,” Schneider said.
RESIST! opens Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Art Hive, 835 Spring Hill Rd, Staunton. Admission is pay-what-you-can. Nobody will be turned away for inability to pay.
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Rebecca Barnabi
