In today’s world, it seems as if we are rocked by global turbulence every time we pick up a newspaper or check out Twitter trends. Trains are suddenly derailed, the people of Baltimore will not stay quiet, and in Nepal, the earth is quite literally shaking. As high-school students sheltered in ten square miles of familiarity, how can we react to these worldwide catastrophes? Whether we are slightly unsettled or passionately, fist-shakingly enraged, do we have a forum through which we can express these reactions to peers and community members? While many Social Studies teachers claim to set aside time for discussion of current events, very few times throughout my school career have I actually been encouraged to talk about current events and issues, whether or not they are disturbing.
Thankfully, the IHS Art Department has had the bravery to set up a platform designed precisely for students to express their feelings about international issues occurring today. As is written on a sheet by the display: “The Art Department invites you to express your thoughts, hopes, fears, prayers, wishes, about these events …” Located in D-hallway amidst the art rooms, this large paper display is open to all IHS students for contribution.
Already hung up along the perimeter is the artwork of several studio classes. These stenciled images depict faces surrounded by thought-provoking words, such as “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” “Don’t be afraid to fight,” and “#BlackLivesMatter.” In the center of the display, directly on the paper, several students have already added their own words. The phrase “Every life matters,” written in black sharpie, seems to be a response to the “Black Lives Matter” hashtag, and is evidence of the success of the project’s intentions: action, reaction, and counteraction. By fostering this type of sensitive, yet important discussion, the hallway presentation serves as a platform for anonymous artistic social dialogue.
The sheets of instruction posted around the displays encourage any type of appropriate addition to the presentation: taped artwork, or simply words written directly on the white paper. Any line, verse, or word, quoted or original, will do, as long as the essence of the text pertains to the contributor’s reaction to current events. The project is optionally anonymous, because artistic credit is not the point. Rather, with this radically open forum, the art department hopes to gather the unheard voices of the students and articulate them in a way that is clean, tangible, and most importantly, honest.
Everyone can benefit from an open forum such as this one. With its base in the arts, this project utilizes the sincerity of artwork to strengthen the voices of the students. This is the outlet for those who wish not to continue to regard today’s events passively. Grab a marker and add what only you can to this school-wide combined art project and conversation. Important events deserve to be acknowledged, and you deserve to have a voice with which to do just that.