In the Fall of 2011, after the Occupy Movement was in full swing, and meetings, actions and info sharing had expanded beyond Zuccotti Park, meaningful messaging and outreach tactics were were activated on a near daily basis.
In May of 2011, tens of thousands of people crowded Puerta del Sol in the center of Madrid in the most visible manifestation of sit-in protests against austerity and corruption. 15-M was an expression of the devastating effects of the 2008 recession, which harshly affected the middle class and condemned millions of people to poverty because of the crash of the housing bubble (Altares, 2021).
The exhibition "Unpacking the 21st Century: Artists Engaging the World" included work by five New York City area artists that examined a range of social and political issues and offered companion special events.