Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate

From May 29 – August 8, 2025

A rare opportunity for transformation arose in Montana in 2004. A defecting leader of the “Creativity Movement” – one of the most virulent white supremacist hate groups in the nation – presented the Montana Human Rights Network with 4000 volumes of their “bibles,” books promoting extreme anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and racist ideologies. In partnership with the Network, the Holter Museum of Art invited artists to respond to, integrate, or transform the books in provocative ways. Artists from across the country transformed these hate-filled books into thought-provoking art that we are thrilled to bring to our community. 

Using diverse strategies and media – sculpture, painting, photography, ceramics, and printmaking – the artists tell personal stories, reconfigure ugliness into beauty, reflect on history, juxtapose symbols, mystify, and offer insights. Integrated educational programs and community-based events engage audiences in dialogue about white supremacy, discrimination, institutional oppression, and the impact of social policies. Participants are encouraged to respond creatively and contribute their skills to build a just society. This exhibition is available through a partnership between Speaking Volumes Art Action (SVAA) and the Holter Museum of Art. These works of art invite us to engage in civic dialog about how we respond to discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism, and prejudice through the power of creative expression and honest conversation. 

The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights Education presents this thought-provoking temporary exhibition in collaboration with the Erma Hayman House and the Albertson Library at Boise State University.