Art Around Town: Movement Rallies Artists Against Tobacco Products

Commune is an organization of artists and musicians that fight tobacco companies.

DULUTH, Minn.- A movement of artists, designers, musicians and people. That’s what Commune’s all about.

“I think Commune really values kind of the community and wants to value the local community and so that’s why we use local artists and local musicians,” Commune local coordinator Sophie Stephens said,

Commune started in California but made its way to the Minnesota art scene just a few years ago, taking over two cities: Minneapolis and Duluth.

“It was a mixture of like… The arts scene here and kind of they really wanted to spread this message in like… A cool, hip way, and commune puts on events just for that. I think the overall vibe, there was just a strong connection there. They were really wanting to push this,” Commune event coordinator Sarah Schwartz said.

The message? Taking a stand against tobacco corporations.

“We’re not anti–smoker or anything like that, we just really are here to inform people of the harms that the industry is doing,” Schwartz said.

Their goal is to inform people about things that big tobacco companies contribute to that people normally wouldn’t support like animal cruelty, deforestation and world hunger. Commune thinks the best way to convey its message is through art and shows.

“I have found that the local community…like arts community just in general is really behind kind of our mission and really likes what we stand for,” Schwartz said.

In 2018 Commune had one show in Duluth in late October featuring local Minnesota bands including indie pop headliner Step Rockets.

“It’s been an actually really amazing year. We’ve gone through this big journey with our families fighting cancer. Everyone one in that band has been affected one way, shape or form. We’ve done a couple of  cancer benefits this year, so it just really made sense when commune got a hold of us,” Step Rockets singer Joshua Schmidt said. “This is something’s we’re really passionate about as a band, and it’s something that really affects us personally, so it’s a great place to be and fighting for a really good cause.”

Of the four Minnesota shows commune held this year, Step Rockets performed in the both the cities and the Twin Ports.

“I think it’s really important to have an organization of people constantly promoting those ideas and those creative outlets for people because it’s a lot of work,” Schmidt said.

Commune is finished with their 2018 season in Minnesota, but is planning on more shows in Duluth in 2019.