Recently the South Side Community Arts Center (SSCAC) in Chicago partnered with four South Side arts organizations to display the Promise of Peace Youth Voices on Violence exhibition. The Beverly Arts Center, Diaspora Rhythms, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts and Southside Community Arts Center host exhibitions, talk’s forums and events. At our most recent visit we witnessed breathtaking art and statements from youth around the city addressing violence in the city. The exhibit is well rounded in that the conversation is not based solely around gun violence. Violence in every form is addressed.
11 year-old Brooklyn Starks addresses this issue with her piece called Positive Space. She drew a picture of a young girl who has words and sentiments written around her. Phrases like “Hey ugly”, “You don’t belong here” and “Just die” stand out prominently. The young girl stands straight up wearing headphones with think positive written on her jeans. We asked Brooklyn how she feels after she draws a picture or write a poem “Drawing and poetry help me to share my voice. It is something to help me heal myself without help from other people, but I also want help from other people for another opinion. Instead of having to go to a therapy session I can sit and draw with paper and pencil. I can write poems. It is the only way I can express my emotion” said Brooklyn.
12 year-old Jadyn Miles piece “Ferguson Revisited” is a conceptual piece that recreates the Michael Brown shooting as it happened and an example of a more peaceful solution. “I want people to get the importance of youth voices and how they can impact something positively. Black lives matter and that situation [Michael Brown shooting] should have never happened. Police officers do not have the right to just shoot someone like that. I thought that was horrible. I want them to know that there are lots of young people do things for this cause and that they matter and people shouldn’t say that young people shouldn’t be part of this. We have brains and we are extremely intelligent.” said Miles
The community forum where you can view the art work will be held at the South Side Community Art Center located at 3831 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago IL 60653 on November 5th. For more information about tour stops and locations please visit the website www.sscartcenter.org
