Art for Change: An Evening with Young People in Celebration of the Hope and Justice Virtual Art Gallery
September 22nd, 2021 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00pm (PST)
Register for this FREE event at https://artforchange.eventbrite.com or join our event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/840429163536572/
Last year, the Directing Change Program created Hope & Justice; a new submission category giving young people the opportunity to express their thoughts and process their feelings around critical health and social justice topics. A selection of these youth-produced works of art have been curated into a virtual art gallery featuring art, written works and films. Please join us on September 22 at 5.30 p.m. for the unveiling of this virtual art experience created by and for young people.
Four reasons not to miss this Facebook Live Event!
- A panel of youth artists whose work is featured in the Hope and Justice virtual art gallery
- A performance by Matthew Cuban Hernandez from Street Poets Inc
- Remarks by Barbara Fant, MFA – Arts for Healing and Justice Network
- The official unveiling of the Hope and Justice Virtual Art Gallery
Over 900 young people across California created impactful art ranging from paintings, written works and original music to short films. Projects addressed how young people were finding hope during tough times, mental health, suicide prevention, their reasons for wearing a face covering, creative ways to measure six feet social distancing, what the election meant to them, the change they hope to see in their communities, and more. Bridget Brodie, a rising junior at Claremont High School, and Directing Change participant will be in discussion with other special guests, to talk about the impact of art on mental health and social change. Brodie’s digital painting ‘Community’ is one of the art pieces in the the gallery that will be displayed online for the 2021-2022 school year. Created in response to the Hope & Justice prompt More than One, Brodie’s goal “was to make art that represented my community of people, which in this case was the queer community. As I worked on this drawing, I reflected on my community and what it meant to me. I had to think about my identity and experience and emulate those thoughts in my art. Brodie connected to the Directing Change program through her mentor and art teacher Ms. Kirkpatrick, who will also be on hand to discuss the impact of Directing Change in the classroom.
Additional Opportunities:
Support the Directing Change Program by participating in a virtual paint experience. From the comfort of your home, you’ll be given instruction as you recreate a work of art from the Hope & Justice Art Collection. It’s our twist on the paint party! Your instructor will be the youth alumni (Bridget Brodie) who originally created the piece of art. This is a ticketed event, but if you are young person and want to participate contact us and, thanks to our sponsors, we can waive the ticket price!
- September 22, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Purchase tickets here: https://artforchange.eventbrite.com
Directing Change works in partnership with statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students. These statewide initiatives are funded by counties through the Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) and administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities.