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Posted: 10/7/2011
Never Turning Back: The World of Peggy Lipschutz -- Never Turning Back, The World of Peggy Lipschutz is a 30 minute film celebrating the life and work of 90 year old Peggy Lipschutz. Peggy is an artist, book illustrator, political activist, labor unionist, feminist, pacifist, humanist. She pioneered the chalk-talk a performance art form combining drawing and music before a live audience. This film explores Peggy s unwavering commitment to art, peace, justice and social change. In the1960 s, she began working with various musicians, drawing to songs, with themes of conflict resolution, equality and justice always with a social content. Over the years, Peggy traveled the country, performing with musicians and personalities such as Pete Seeger, Ella Jenkins, Studs Terkel, Win Stracke, Arlo Guthrie, Holly Near and many others. Peggy and her Songs You Can See were part of the struggles of many of Chicago s labor unions; anti-war campaigns; the civil rights movements of the 60's; Harold Washington s Mayoral campaign, and many others. Her illustrations became, for a generation of labor activists, synonymous with the message of labor unity, democracy and struggle. Several people often referred to Peggy as a Chicago institution in the labor movement and the people s movement. The goal of this half hour film is not only to celebrate the life and work of this unique woman but to use Peggy s life-long commitment to art and social change as inspiration for the next generation. We use archival material and existing film footage, conversations with Peggy, as well as contemporary interviews with some of Peggy s colleagues, family and friends. We hope that a new generation of artists and activists will learn and carry on Peggy s important work for peace and justice.