New Interview with Ellis Angel Featured on PEN America: The Censor’s Cut Series
Close-up view of Ellis Angel’s weaving of 'Gender Queer', featuring intricately woven pages and banned book tape, highlighting themes of censorship and intellectual freedom.
We are thrilled to share that Ellis Angel’s newest and highly talked about weaving series, The Censor’s Cut: Weavings for Intellectual Freedom, is currently making waves not in a traditional gallery, but at Magic City Books in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The series, which includes transformed works of titles like A Court of Mist and Fury, Gender Queer, Flamer, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, showcases books not just on shelves but as pieces of art—shredded, rewoven, and boldly marked with "Banned Books" tape.
In an illuminating conversation with PEN America’s Communications Assistant Amulya Hiremath, Ellis delves deep into the roots of their artistry, the impassioned drive behind their politically charged weavings, and the unnerving rise of censorship in the United States.
From Streets to Stories: The Making of a Political Artist
Ellis recounts their journey into the world of art as more than a choice—it was a necessity, emerging from a backdrop of personal and political turmoil. "Art was a good coping mechanism growing up," Ellis explains. The turning point came with the Women’s March in 2018, where the discarded protest posters became not just trash but treasures that inspired a major artistic revelation. Ellis’s unique method involves dismantling and reconstructing texts to challenge and critique power dynamics and societal inequalities.
Detailed view of Ellis Angel's weaving of 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower', showcasing the complex texture of shredded book pages.
Books and the Artist’s Role in Combating Censorship
With a Masters in English, books form the backbone of Ellis’s world, influencing their understanding and empathy towards diverse narratives. "To have those voices silenced is appalling," Ellis states, underscoring the dire need for artists to engage boldly with issues of censorship and expression, even amidst pushback.
Inside The Censor’s Cut
The Censor’s Cut is not just an exhibition but a declaration against the systematic silencing of marginalized voices. The featured weavings incorporate materials from the ALA’s Top 10 Most Challenged Books lists of 2022 and 2023, making a stark statement against censorship through the visceral medium of Ellis’s art. "Art doesn’t exist to make you feel comfortable," Ellis remarks, pushing the audience to confront the discomforting truths of censorship and cultural erasure.
Artistic Process: A Conduit for Change
Ellis shares their creative process as one driven by anger and a desire for change—transforming cherished materials like books and money into powerful statements against societal flaws. Each piece, meticulously shredded and rewoven, carries a profound narrative, urging viewers to reflect and act.
Window display at Magic City Books featuring three of Ellis Angel's weavings from 'The Censor's Cut' series, surrounded by shredded paper and visible banned books, highlighting the theme of censorship.
The Unconventional Venue: A Bookstore as a Gallery
Displaying the series in a bookstore brings the conversation full circle, placing the art in a realm of thought leaders and readers—a perfect backdrop for challenging the narrative on banned books. "It makes them sick," Ellis hopes about their audience's reaction, aiming to provoke a visceral response that translates into action.
Looking Forward: Activism Through Art
As Ellis's weavings weave their way into public discourse, they envision a future where such expressions are not just seen but felt and acted upon. In alignment with John Lewis's call to "Make Good Trouble," Ellis not only seeks to make art but to make a difference, urging everyone to take a stand for freedom of expression.
Read the full interview here and experience the power of political art in action.
