Make Art, Make Trouble: Feminist Art, Film, and Collective Action

Jun 25, 2026
12–9 pm

New York, NY, USA

SVA Theatre, 333 W 23rd Street

Join us on June 25 for a free, full-day celebration of the life and work of Joan Braderman (1948-2025). Video artist, activist, pioneering voice of the feminist second wave, and a founding member of Heresies: A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics, Braderman was part of a generation of women who fundamentally transformed how art and politics could speak to one another. Braderman was also a revered professor at SVA in the Department of Film & Video, 1972-1985, where she taught "Film Theory & Practice," "Film Documentary: The Politics of Style" and "Woman as Director: Selected Filmmakers."

The first part of the day, organized by Joan Braderman Archive and Abina Manning (Executive Director of Video Data Bank from 2006-2021), brings together works by Braderman and her contemporaries through a screening program of early feminist film and video accompanied by artist Q&As. The second part of the program will feature a screening of Braderman’s feature-length documentary THE HERETICS (2009, 95 min.), which traces the radical legacy of the Heresies Collective, followed by a panel discussion with members of Heresies on the ongoing impact of their collective action and resistance.

RSVP

All videos and films will be Closed Captioned, and live ASL interpretation will be available during the discussion portions of the event.

Schedule of Events

See descriptions of the films and videos here

12 pm: Doors open

12:30 pm: Welcome remarks by Lyn Hughes, Christopher Cyphers, and Abina Manning (Executive Director of Video Data Bank from 2006-2021)

1 pm: Screenings of:

Joan Braderman, Joan Does Dynasty, 1986 (31:00)
Martha Rosler, Semiotics of the Kitchen, 1975 (06:09)
Max Almy, Leaving the 20th Century, 1982 (11:00)
Ayoka Chenzira, Hair Piece: A Film for Nappyheaded People, 1984 (10:00)
Su Friedrich, Gently Down the Stream, 1981 (12:00)
Julie Dash, Diary of An African Nun, 1977 (14:55)

Followed by a Q&A with Su Friedrich and Martha Rosler moderated by Crescent Diamond

2:45 pm: Break

3 pm: Screenings of:

Lyn Blumenthal, Doublecross, 1985 (08:00)
Mona Hatoum, Measures of Distance, 1988 (15:30)
Zeinabu irene Davis, Cycles, 1989 (17:00)
Meena Nanji, Voices of the Morning, 1992 (13:00)
Cyrille Phipps, Respect is Due, 1991 (10:16)
Joan Braderman, 30 Second Spot Reconsidered, 1988 (12:05)

Followed by a Q&A with Cyrille Phipps and Meena Nanji moderated by Crescent Diamond

4:30 pm: Break

5 pm: Screening of THE HERETICS introduced by B. Ruby Rich and Becky Donovan

7 pm: Panel discussion with Heresies members including Su Friedrich, Elizabeth Hess, and Joyce Kozloff, moderated by scholar Tatjana Schaefer

8 pm: Reception honoring Joan Braderman

Participants

Joan Braderman, Abina Manning, Max Almy, Lyn Blumenthal, Ayoka Chenzira, Julie Dash, Crescent Diamond, Zeinabu irene Davis,

Su Friedrich, Mona Hatoum, Elizabeth Hess, Joyce Kozloff, Meena Nanji, Cyrille Phipps, Martha Rosler

Make Art, Make Trouble: Feminist Art, Film, and Collective Action is co-organized by ICI, Joan Braderman Archive, and the School of Visual Arts. This event is sponsored by the Joan Braderman Archive, School of Visual Arts, Art Ferrara, Lyn Hughes, Robert C. Reckman, Women Make Movies, and Video Data Bank. The program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Additional support for this program is provided by the William Talbott Hillman Foundation and the ICI Board of Trustees.