Allison Cole, Illustrator, Artist, and Teacher
1. How long have you been a resident of Rhode Island and what do you do for a living here?
I have lived in RI since 1999, when I moved here to attend the Rhode Island School of Design. I fell in love with Providence and the creative community here, and decided to stay. I work as an illustrator and artist, I teach as an adjunct faculty member at RISD, and I’m a mother of a really awesome 3-year-old son.
2. TWP has been working to pass a bill that codifies Roe V Wade into RI state law. We are interested in the ways that Reproductive Freedom impacts your life and the work that you do?
It is so important, now more than ever with the balance of the Supreme Court likely swinging further to the right, that Rhode Island passes legislation at the state level. I believe that every woman has the right to make decisions for themselves and their bodies, and those rights need to be protected.
3. When you think about your community (or communities) what is something you would like them to know about Reproductive Freedom in RI? Why?
When I was younger, I often overlooked the issues surrounding this in RI – I figured, we live in a blue state, so our local politicians who are Democrats must be for Reproductive Freedom and women’s rights. It is so totally NOT the case, and it is so important to research your local candidates and really look in to the record of who you are voting for. If these are issues that are important to you, find the right candidates to support, write letters, call, hold elected officials accountable!
4. How do you bring this issue into your professional life, if at all?
I love working and collaborating with companies, businesses, and non-profits that have a need for artwork with any positive progressive political message. When I create artwork for products that are for sale that involve any sort of political messaging, I often work with companies that donate proceeds from sales to organizations that benefit from the messaging. Some of my favorite collaborations have been with Badge Bomb, we worked together to create a feminist-themed collection of artwork that has been turned in to greeting cards, buttons, magnets, stickers, enamel pins and patches, with proceeds donated to various large and small non-profit organizations.
5. How do you recommend artists bring these sophisticated issues into their work for either the personal or contentious nature of it?
It is difficult and sometimes scary to bring personal political beliefs in to your artwork, and for me the easiest route was creating products to help get messages in a mass-produced way directly out and in to the public space. I enjoy creating art that is accessible and it is such a joy to see people of all identities and ages connecting with a statement or sentiment on something inexpensive like a button or patch. By putting products like this out in to the world, it has allowed me other opportunities to create more narrative illustrations with a progressive and inclusive feminist message, like editorial illustrations for magazines and newspapers, and a page in the official Hillary Clinton campaign coloring book.
6. Is there anything else you would like to add?
I have recently collaborated with Tiny Showcase to create a limited-edition art print, 100% of the proceeds are being donated to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) Family Reunification and Bond Fund, to help asylum-seeking families reunite with their children. To date, we have raised $500 and counting. Find out more here:
https://www.tinyshowcase.com/tiny-nursery/elephant-walk-by-allison-cole
http://www.allisoncoleillustration.com/
https://shop.badgebomb.com/collections/allison-cole/
