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At the second stop of their U.S tour bridging performance art and political action, the Russian post-punk feminist collective known as Pussy Riot are playing a sold out show at the Turf Club. 

 of their whirlwind tour included a political rally with Illinois Democratic gubernatorial candidate Daniel Biss. 


The artist-activist collective was propelled into the 

 by the 2012 trial and conviction of three members for "hooliganism connected to religious hatred" during a guerilla protest. The trial was regarded as a test of free speech in President Vladimir Putin's Russia, and prompted international protests and outcry. 

The artist-activists remain outspoken critics of Presidents Putin and Trump, warning of the dangers of populism, autocratic power, and patriarchy while advocating for solidarity and action for change. 


Drawing on a rich tapestry of political action and performance art, the collective brings an ever evolving array of styles to their performances and videos. Recently they collaborated with producer David Sitek, known for his work with 

 with  Nadezhda "Nadya" Tolokonnikova, the only member of Pussy Riot who is not anonymous, some members of the collective have fled Russia. Recently other members of the collective 

 that "I'm not a big fan of preaching, but if you want to learn something from Pussy Riot, it's that activism should be joyful," she said  backstage. "For young people, activism has felt like a boring job. That started to change with the Women's March — it's cool again."

Check back for further coverage from The Current over the weekend. 

William Lager

Author

The second stop of a 13 city tour crisscrossing the United States brings the balaclava clad artist-activist collective to a sold out show at the Turf Club on Saturday night.

Pussy Riot performed at Subterranean in Chicago on their first tour stop

Pussy Riot, political performance and joyful activism comes to St. Paul

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