Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections LibraryRose Oliveira, Accessioning Archivist
This collection is minimally processed and open for research.
MSS 16546, The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative ephemera and zine collection, Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.
This collection was a gift from Molly Schwartzburg to the Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia on June 21, 2021.
The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative (The Bridge PAI) is a non-profit organization with a focus on the engagement of Arts and Humanities throughout Charlottesville and Central Virginia. They provide resources and support to the community and have offered exhibitions, public art, murals, workshops, classes and performances. As a community-driven organization, it is part of their mission to "work to dissolve social barriers by supporting the work of emerging artists and bringing people together through collaborative practices and cultural programming."
This collection contains a collection of ephemera and zines that were available in repurposed newspaper boxes outside The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative in Charlottesville, Virginia. These items were gathered in intervals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021. These include personal and political zines by Laura Lee Gulledge, Mala Leche, and the rasquache collective; informational fliers about defunding the police and policing, Black Lives Matter, and actions against white supremacy; and posters encouraging those to wear a mask.