Wheat pasting - the act of adhering posters to public surfaces using a simple flour-based glue, has long been a powerful tool for grassroots activism, political dissent, and reclaiming public space. The first half of this hands-on workshop will begin with a presentation of the 'Justice For Our Lives' art project by artist Oree Original followed by Q & A. The second half will include a demonstration on the simple process of creating your own wheat paste, followed by a collaborative session where participants will apply posters to a dedicated practice wall. By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with the skills and the sticky hands to bring your own messages to the streets.
We’ll discuss the role of political posters in shaping narratives, mobilizing communities, and challenging power structures, as well as strategies for evading censorship. Whether you're an artist, activist, or simply curious about DIY propaganda, this session will equip you with practical skills and historical context to use wheat pasting as a tool for change.
Join us to reclaim the streets as a canvas for dissent—no experience required, just a willingness to get sticky!
About Oree Original:
At the crossroads of art and activism, I weaponize creativity to challenge the status quo through multi disciplinary art. My creative arsenal includes acrylic painting, digital illustrations, screen printing, stencils, and street wheat-pasting. My art process functions as both cultural intervention and community dialogue. At the core of my art practice lies a commitment to disrupting systemic violence and amplifying marginalized voices through visually striking protest art.
My landmark art project 'Justice For Our Lives' (2014-2020) memorializes 100 victims of fatal encounters with US law enforcement since the start of the 21st century through freely distributed digital portraits (oree.art/justiceforourlives). These black and white open-source images transform community members into co-conspirators of resistance against state sponsored terrorism, while my forthcoming book will deepen this act of radical remembrance through investigative storytelling.
Parallel to activism, my figurative paintings construct vibrant worlds where animated characters embody multidimensional narratives including struggles in confronting personal identity, racism, state violence, and displacement. Each piece begin as sketches on paper before evolving into public art whether displayed as gallery installations or street level paste ups. This intentional blurring of institutional and grassroots spaces ensures my work reaches both traditional art audiences and the communities it represents.