Cima Arts: Texas on Fire

It was a cloudy and muggy afternoon in the Cedars neighborhood of Dallas at Four Corners Brewing Co. Thankfully the What’s Your Take? table was indoors for the first time. The table joined the Texas on Fire event produced by Cima Arts, with food, local vendors, community organizations, voter registration, artists, a pop-up art gallery, a DJ set, and live music from two bands.

The first response came about 45 minutes into the event as a physical card. Cards and one digital submission continued to trickle in for most of the afternoon. Around 4pm there was an engaging moderated panel discussion with representatives from Dallas Asian American Art Club, Truth Pregnancy Resource Center, Somos Tejas, and Resource Center.

Compared to the table’s second stop, a march with no table, being back at a table where people could sit, reflect, and quietly be reminded of the power they already have was a welcome change.

Some folks were eager to respond while others weren’t sure what to write. The table is all about exercising agency, so there’s never pressure to respond.

A representative from Move Texas came over to kindly share swag, a zine, and their voter guide, and had encouraging things to say about the project and its motivations.

This event featured two newly designed placards. One stated the question, “What would you remind an American in 2076?”, with a QR code that went directly to the submission form. The other outlined what We (ARE) the People is and its two civic identity projects, with a QR code for each. Over the first table’s signage, this was a vast improvement. I somehow forgot to include WrTP’s Instagram account, but with art supplies at hand, that was quickly remedied by writing the handle on a couple of index cards. The table also got a skirt! Which was actually a canvas painter’s drop cloth.

Expect updated placards at the next event!