Pillars of Democracy: Art, Civic Power, and Community Collaboration
Niki Johnson, Artist
Pillars of Democracy is a four-part mixed media portrait series created by artist Niki Johnson with contributions from Milwaukee artists and nearly seventy community volunteers. Built from repurposed materials from Shepard Fairey’s 2020 mural Voting Rights Are Human Rights and informed by suffrage-era design, the series reframes Liberty, Justice, Freedom, and Forward as first-time voters in Wisconsin. This talk explores how art, activism, and community building intersect to tell a new story of civic participation—one grounded in place, collective action, and the ongoing effort to build a more just and inclusive democracy.
In-Person or Online
In-Person: In Max Otto Hall.
Online: Also available on our YouTube channel.
For over 50 years, the Sunday Forum lecture series has showcased provocative, sometimes controversial, speakers discussing topical issues of the day: politics, the environment, health issues, the arts, education, and more. The Sunday Forum is held at 10:00 a.m. September through May. Speakers give a 45-minute presentation, followed by questions and brief comments from the audience. The content of Forum lectures does not necessarily express the viewpoint of First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, but are meant to offer thoughtful topics which our members often pursue further on their own.
