STUDENT MURAL DESIGN CONTEST
Open to youth ages 4-18.
Submissions Due:
September 15, 2020
OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT:
This community art project invites the youth of Boy Scout Troop 457, Emmanuel Church, Emmanuel Day School, Patty’s Play Center, and Youth Theatre Northwest to participate in a student-led art installation. The goal of this project is for our organizations to voice communal support of Black Lives. While also continuing and furthering the conversations about racism and bringing an end to racial inequality in our community, state, and country.
Together we will be creating our own, smaller version a BLACK LIVES MATTER art installation on campus, as inspired by the one on Pine Street in Seattle (pictured below). In which a different artist’s design will be selected for each letter, to bring together the themes of the BLM movement through student art.
Photo credit: Megan Farmer
BUT WAIT, ISN'T MERCER ISLAND A PREDOMINATELY WHITE AND NON-BLACK POC COMMUNITY?
Yes, yes it is. And that is going to remain true for the foreseeable future. The idea for this project came to life when thinking about opportunities we could give our students to show their support of the BLM movement in an age-appropriate way.
"Black Lives Matter" is a phrase white and non-Black people of color (POC) need to embrace to help put an end to racial inequality in our country. Black people know their lives matter, let's show them we agree!
Outside of this project, there are so many ways you can show your support with direct action:
- Attend a rally or march in support of Black lives
- Buy books written and/or illustrated by Black authors
- Raise funds to make donations to organizations that further Black lives (Like The Art of Tough Talks)
- Support arts and culture that feature Black artists and voices
- Order take-out from Black owned restaurants
As a predominately white and non-Black POC community, it's tricky to figure out how we fit into the movement as allies. We must show up and show our support, while giving space for people of color.
If something about this project rubs you the wrong way or you have questions about it, let's talk about it! No one has all the answers. We're learning alongside you.
If you have questions and concerns, email Cory Southwell (cory@youththeatre.org).
WHAT IS THIS ART INSTALLATION GOING TO LOOK LIKE?
Our version is going to be MUCH smaller than the one in Seattle. In fact, it's going to be small enough to fit into a frame, that will be fitted to the wall on Emmanuel Church campus.
The goal of the project is for the letters (about 6" in height each) to be painted by students, with the assistance of a professional teaching artist, that then get installed together into a large shadow box.
It will end up looking like a large picture frame, but with the student's letters sticking out from the background.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMISSION:
- Artists should be between 4-18 years of age and be involved in of one of these programs:
- Boy Scout Troop 457
- Emmanuel Episcopal Church
- Emmanuel Day School
- Patty’s Play Center
- Youth Theatre Northwest
- Families should read and discuss the Black Lives Matter organization’s 13 Guiding Principles:
Early Childhood and Elementary Aged Version
Middle and High School Aged Version
- For more information about how to talk to your child about racism and racial inequality, click here.
HOW TO SUBMIT A DESIGN PROPOSAL:
- Artists can select any of the letters to create a design for. Download the letter template here.
- You may submit a design for as many letters as you would like.
-Preference will be given to designs that thematically echo the guiding principles of the BLM movement.
-Designs must be emailed or postmarked by September 15, 2020.
-Design submissions can be scanned and emailed to cory@youththeatre.org OR mailed to:
YOUTH THEATRE NORTHWEST
c/o Cory Southwell
P.O. Box 296
Mercer Island, WA 98040
In late September emails will go out to the selected designs to discuss the next steps. If selected, you will be guided by a professional teaching-artist, to paint your design onto the letters of our installation.
For more information, email Cory Southwell at cory@youththeatre.org.
ARTIST BLOCK?
HERE'S SOME IDEAS FOR INSPRIATION:
- Keep it simple. Even a plain pattern can be impactful if you put meaning behind it.
- Remember this art installation is not about judging your artistic skill. Instead, this art installation is a way for our privlidged community to continue the conversation on lifting up Black lives and Black communities.
-After you've chosen a letter to design, turn your letter to look at it from each angle. Thinking how your design could fit into the shape.
- Find inspiration of color, pattern, and shape from Black artists like Jacob Lawrence or Loïs Mailou Jones.
- Revist the Black Lives Matter organization’s 13 Guiding Principles. Find words that jump out to you and start doodling representations of those words.
Early Childhood and Elementary Aged Version
Middle and High School Aged Version
- Explore ways of portraying emotions, family, nature, power, and freedom through art and color.