Celebrating the life of Agnes âAggieâ Gund from the Aubin Pictures Board of Directors đď¸ |
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A Kindred Spirit in Art and Justice We lost a beautiful soul on September 18, when Agnes âAggieâ Gund passed away at 87 in her home in New York City. For those of us at Aubin Pictures who believe deeply in artâs power to create a more just and kind world, Aggieâs life feels like a roadmapâshowing us how creativity and empathy can work hand in hand to heal our broken systems.
The Heart of a Revolutionary What made Aggie extraordinary wasnât her wealth or her famous art collection. It was her fierce, quiet determination to use every privilege she possessed in the service of righting wrongs. (And her deliciously wry sense of humor). In 1977, when she learned that New York City was cutting arts education from public schools, she didnât just feel outragedâshe acted. âHow could children not have art?â she asked herself. That question led to Studio in a School, a nonprofit that has brought professional artists into public school classrooms for nearly five decades, proving that creativity belongs to everyone, not just the privileged few. This instinct for fairness would define her entire approach to art and life. She championed artists of color and women decades before it became fashionable, understanding intuitively that whose voices get heard shape the world we all inhabit. |
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A Radical Act of Love In 2017, after reading Michelle Alexanderâs âThe New Jim Crowâ and watching Ava DuVernayâs documentary â13th,â Aggie made a decision that would define her legacy. She sold Roy Lichtensteinâs âMasterpieceââa painting that had brought her daily joy for over four decadesâthen donated the proceeds to launch the Art for Justice Fund. Over six years, the fund awarded over $127 million in grants to artists and organizations working to end mass incarceration. The gesture was breathtaking in its generosity and moral clarity: this wasnât philanthropy as usualâit was art as activism, wealth as a weapon against systemic injustice.
An Aubin Love Letter Perhaps the most moving testament to Aggieâs character came through the documentary âAggie,â which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Catherine (Aggie's daughter and the founder of Aubin Pictures) captured a woman who much preferred backgrounds to spotlights, someone who deflected praise while quietly changing the world. The film revealed someone refreshingly humble about her impact. When asked what she hoped would come of the film, Aggie replied with characteristic honesty: âI hope the film will not be seen by too many people.â However, on that she was quite mistaken, âAggieâ being one of our most successful projects. |
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Our Shared Mission For all of us in the Aubin Pictures family, Aggieâs support was deeply personal. We remember her cheering us on as we produced âDispatches from Cleveland,â our documentary about transforming the criminal justice system through local elections in her beloved hometownâwork that aligned perfectly with the mission of the Art for Justice Fund. What struck us most about spending time with Aggie was how much she enjoyed meeting young people and supporting their development and participation in the world around them. She understood what we know: that art isnât decorationâitâs a source and tool for transformation. Stories donât just entertainâthey educate, inspire, and heal. |
A Light That Keeps Shining In a world that often feels divided and dark, Aggieâs life reminds us that kindness is a choice, justice is possible, and art, in every form, remains one of our most powerful tools for building bridges. She leaves us not just mourning her loss, but inspired by her example. Her story continues through every voice we amplify, every injustice we illuminate, every heart we change through the power of storytelling.
Rest in power, dear Aggie, and thank you. Your vision lives in all of us. Dana Ain-Davis Vivien Labaton Marques McClary Scot Nakagawa |
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đ¤Followed by a Q&A with Leah Faria (film participant, activist) and Catherine Gund (director, producer) |
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đ¤Followed by a Q&A with Leah Faria (film participant, activist) and Catherine Gund (director, producer) |
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Followed by a Q&A with Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter (film participant, executive producer), Tonie Willis (Ardellaâs House) and Catherine Gund (director, producer) Moderated by Dr. Kimberly McGlonn (Fitler Club) |
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Followed by a Q&A with Catherine Gund (director, producer). Panel TBA. |
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Followed by a Q&A with Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter (participant, executive producer), Ashley Blakeney (Crenshaw Dairy Mart), and Catherine Gund (director, producer) Moderated by Kristin Juarez (Getty Research Institute) |
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Stay tuned for additional upcoming fall dates! Including more screenings in NYC, LA and SFđđđ |
Printed @ New Filmmakers Festival in Middlebury VT đď¸đ¨ |
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Handmade paper by A Revolutionary Press using resident clothing from The Womenâs Center Maine Department of Corrections
Letterpress printed at the film screening of âPaint Me A Road Out of Hereâ
Henry Sheldon Museum and Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival Middlebury, Vermont August 21, 2025
In Collaboration with âFinding Hope Withinâ an exhibition by Vermont incarcerated artists
Linocut by Nicky Coupe Designed at A Revolutionary Press |
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đď¸As Seen In... đ° |
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NYFA Classifieds Volunteer Portal Now Live A Game-Changer for Arts Organizations! đ |
NYFA Classifieds Volunteer Portal is a fantastic, brand-new, free-to-use resource designed specifically for arts organizations. This exciting platform makes it easier than ever to post volunteer opportunities and connect with passionate individuals who want to support nonprofits in the arts.
Whether youâre looking for event support, administrative help, or creative collaboration, the Volunteer Portal is your new go-to tool for building community and expanding your reach.
Getting started is simple: just sign in, navigate to âManage Volunteer Listings,â click âCreate a Listing,â and follow the prompts.
Start leveraging this powerful new resource today and watch your impact in the arts community grow! |
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Vital Transgressions: đłď¸âđ OPEN CALL FOR FILM PROPOSALS đłď¸ââ§ď¸ |
Vital Transgressions is commissioning 10-minute films that explore queer transgression and activism today. Open to Canadian and international queer/Trans artists â especially Black, Indigenous, Racialized, Crip, Deaf, and Poz creators.
Experimental, documentary, fiction, archival â all genres welcome. Selected filmmakers will receive support through workshops, mentorship, and a 2026 premiere in Toronto.
đ Individuals or collectives with filmmaking experience are encouraged to apply.
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Deadline: October 20, 2025 |
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Watch Fantasmas! Julio Torres' weaves a hilarious, surrealist tapestry of sketches into a narrative that critiques immigration policy, social media, capitalism, and more. |
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In the current seemingly endless tumultuous state of the world, one of the best things we can do for ourselves and our communities is take action through participatory education and supporting community-led organizations, libraries, and archives. The Free Black Women's Library is a space to invest in and be invested in, in that way. Described as a social art project, a community care space, literary hub, and Black Feminist Archive, The Free Black Women's Library is doing grassroots work and activism that is oftentimes overlooked due to its subtlety but is essential to our communities and sustained efforts. Support them by checking out their online programming and services and visiting them in person at their new Bed Stuy location. |
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My current obsession: Hal's NY Kettle Chips. Specifically the sea salt & vinegar flavor. I wish I could say I pace myself, but realistically I'm going through 2-3 bags a week like its a part time job. |
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Watch the trailer for "The Bride!" Maggie Gyllenhaal directs this reimagining of âThe Bride of Frankenstein,â starring Jessie Buckley as the titular bride and Christian Bale as Frankensteinâs monster, all set against the backdrop of 1930s Chicago. |
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