Susan Sherman is an American writer, editor, and activist known for her contributions to literature and social justice. As a co-founder and editor of IKON Magazine, Sherman provided a platform for voices that challenged mainstream cultural and political narratives. Her work often explores themes of social justice, human rights, and political activism. Sherman has also authored several books, including poetry collections and memoirs, where she delves into her personal experiences and broader societal issues. Her dedication to amplifying marginalized voices and addressing critical social issues has made her a respected figure in both literary and activist communities.
IKON
Two trips to Cuba and Susan Sherman’s friendship with another publisher in Mexico City cultivated IKON, which started primarily because artists were sick of critics who claimed they knew about art. IKONStore, located in the East Village in Manhattan, was developed in the “late sixties, early Seventies where we did everything but sell a lot of books! We had poetry readings, music events and political talks, and one night a benefit for the Panthers, We supported it with our salaries and designing and printing the programs for LaMama.” As the issues became more political, they lost their distributions. Sensitive topics hindered them from getting governmental funding such as the National Endowment for the Arts, or NEA. Eventually, they received funding from the New York State Council on the Arts Literature Committee.
On revisiting IKON:
I became much more involved in the Women’s Movement and Gay Liberation Struggle particularly through the Fifth Street Women’s Building in 1970 which was a combined Women’s Liberation Movement and squatter action and then Sagaris, an experiment in women’s education. I travelled to Chile during Allende and Nicaragua during the early days of the Sandinistas in the Seventies and Eighties and continued to write and get jobs wherever I could find work—mostly low wage jobs doing things like typesetting—until I finally got an adjunct position teaching at Parsons School of Design, where I still teach. All of which contributed material, connections, and inspiration that led to revisiting IKON again in the Eighties.
