Detail of vibrant 10’ x 6’ wall vinyl installation features responses in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole from the Voices on Banned Books survey, transforming community reflections on censorship, free expression, and cultural diversity into a collective visual statement.
Forbidden Pages… In Flight
Miami Beach Regional Library/January 10 – April 3, 2025
Forbidden Pages…In Flight is a socially engaged art project rooted in printmaking that confronts the rise of book censorship in Florida public schools. Featuring letterpress and relief prints, zines, installations, a survey, and interactive game activations, the project reclaims banned stories as acts of resistance and celebration.
It emerges as a compelling art and social engagement exhibition that began in early 2023 and is ongoing. Rooted in the centuries-old tradition of broadsides and letterpress printing—a medium that has shaped public discourse for over 500 years—this initiative leverages the power of art to educate, raise awareness, and inspire action.
Drawing inspiration from a collection of over 2,500 banned or challenged books, the works focus on specific titles such as The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe, Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome, All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, and Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard. Through a vibrant fusion of colors, text, abstract patterns, International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs), matching barcodes, and selected excerpts from these banned texts, the prints weave together powerful visual and conceptual elements. Each piece offers clues and insights, inviting viewers to reflect on the significance of these works.
Forbidden Pages…In Flight thrives through audience engagement and participation. This iteration of the project at Miami Beach Regional Library gallery includes community activations, reading station, and interactive spaces where visitors are invited to explore banned books, take zines, and contribute their own reflections through Voices on Banned Books survey. Like much socially engaged art, it is composed of simple gestures and actions that may appear symbolic—but the practice itself is actual, unfolding within the public realm. Its temporary nature highlights the urgency and impermanence of cultural freedom, transforming each encounter into an opportunity for collective reflection and civic dialogue.
By drawing on the historical and social significance of printed forms, Forbidden Pages…In Flight functions as both a creative act of objection and a living platform for exchange—empowering communities to engage critically with the ongoing struggle for free expression and equitable education.
This exhibition was presented in partnership with Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (DVCAI) and is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
A curated book cart invites visitors to explore the titles and resources that inspired the exhibition. Take a zine to enjoy and share your thoughts by participating in our survey—Voices on Banned Books
Two vitrines reveal carved linoleum blocks and wood type, offering a glimpse into the tactile and experimental process of letterpress printing.
Image of open 8-page zine that collects and while sharing responses in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole from the Voices on Banned Books survey, transforming community reflections on censorship, free expression, and cultural diversity into a collective visual statement.
Forbidden Pages Board Game. Step into the roles of librarians, activists, or students in Forbidden Pages, a dynamic board game designed by the artist as part of the FORBIDDEN PAGES…IN FLIGHT exhibition.
Perfect for 4 players, this exciting game invites you to navigate a series of challenges—sneak banned books back onto library shelves while avoiding censorship cards, evading surveillance, and leveraging strategic boost spaces.
The clock is ticking, and the race is on—who will be the first to restore access to the Books and champion the fight for knowledge.
Forbidden Pages: Art, Activism & Banned Books
December 4, 2023, to February 18, 2024
@ Walgreens on 74th St. and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach
Forbidden Pages is a socially engaged art project rooted in printmaking that confronts the rise of book censorship in Florida public schools. Featuring letterpress and relief prints, zines, Join the Conversation bilingual QR Code/Survey, site-specific wallpaper murals, and four sidewalk activations the project reclaims banned stories as acts of resistance and celebration. Drawing inspiration from a collection of over 2,500 banned or challenged books, the works focus on specific titles such as "The Bluest Eye," "Before She Was Harriet," "Festival of Colors," and "Neither,". The ephemeral and temporary artist activations are scheduled to engage the public over the period of six weeks and bring these silenced stories to life.
The works on paper utilize colorful abstract designs rooted in International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs), texts, and corresponding barcodes as visual clues. The installation and activations aim to spark curiosity and foster critical thinking among the public by carving out space for spontaneity, vulnerability and curiosity. Seamlessly combining art and critical dialogue, Forbidden Pages encourages reflection on the increasing limitations and decreasing accessibility to literature within Florida’s public schools.
Panel and conversation with Hedieh Sepehri from Families Against Book Banning, Laura Guerrero program Coordinator for Oolite Arts and artist Rosa Naday Garmendia about art, activism and banned books.
Blind Date with a Banned Book giveaway during program. Books curtesy of Books and Books Literary Foundation.
This exhibition was made possible by Oolite Arts.
Forbidden Pages
Hispanic Branch Library
February 23 - May 16, 2024
Letterpress prints form the foundation of Forbidden Pages, an art and social engagement exhibit utilizing diverse art forms such as letterpress, linoleum prints, zines, and a site-specific wallpaper mural installation. Drawing inspiration from a collection of more than 2,500 banned or challenged children’s books, including renowned titles like The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Festival of Colors by Kabir and Surishtha Sehgal, and Neither by Airlie Anderson, Garmendia’s exhibit breathes fresh air into the silenced tales of these remarkable novels.
Each piece of Forbidden Pages features vibrant and colorful abstract designs rooted in the International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) of the challenged novels and their corresponding barcodes. This thought-provoking exhibit aims to foster and ignite curiosity on the meaning behind text excerpts of these novels. Garmendia’s exhibit seamlessly blends art and critical dialogue, encouraging the public to also reflect upon the ongoing limitations and accessibility concerns of children’s literature novels within Florida's public schools
FREE THE BOOKS: A Print Exhibition
Hive Center for the Book Arts and Evanston Public Library are excited to partner with Starshaped Press for the FREE THE BOOKS campaign by hosting FREE THE BOOKS: A Print Exhibition at Evanston Public Library's main branch, 1703 Orrington, Evanston, IL.
FREE THE BOOKS: A Print Exhibition has made its way to the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vermont during the month of September 2024!
Special thanks to Jen @starshapedpress for her FREE THE BOOKS initiative.
Checkout Starshaped Press October Newsletter.
