Event will showcase youth understanding of art, history and culture
Members of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee’s Mural Arts Program will unveil their Building Bridges art project at a community block party event on Thursday, August 16. The art project features a life-size depiction of Ruby Bridges as she became one of the first African-American children to attend an all-white school in 1960.
The Ruby Bridges instillation will feature life-size silhouettes of the important figures involved in Ruby’s first dayof school. Each silhouette will be equipped with a unique design on the front, and piece of poetry or short essay from a youth artist on the back expressing why this moment in history is significant to them. As the new school year approaches, this art instillation will allow community members to take a walk through time and gain anunderstanding of Ruby’s journey, while also reflecting on how the significance of that moment is still being felt today. The instillation’s first stop will be outdoors in a vacant lot next to Jazale’s Art Studio. The project will also visit America’s Black Holocaust Museum and various Boys & Girls Club locations.
The Building Bridges project began nearly six months ago and was selected by the youth because of Ruby’s historical importance and reflection of Milwaukee’s diverse culture. The youth artists set out to research RubyBridges while also visiting the likes of Milwaukee, Chicago and New York City to view pieces of public art for inspiration.
The final project will be unveiled after a brief program featuring remarks from Mural Arts Program Instructor Vedale Hill, Sheri Williams Pannell, Producing Artistic Director, Bronzeville Arts Ensemble and Assistant Professor, UWM Peck School of the Arts, and Darren Hill, Co-Owner of Jazale’s Art Studio. Nearly 100 additional Club members are expected to attend the block party to learn about Ruby Bridges and the importance of education, leadership and the arts. The afternoon of fun will also see appearances from special guests includingMilwaukee Bucks’ mascot Bango and the Hoop Troop.
Date: Schedule:
Thursday, August 16, 2018
12:00 p.m. – Block Party begins, community members and youth arrive
12:30 p.m. – Program begins
12:45 p.m. – Art project unveiled
1:00 p.m. – Block party continues with appearances from Milwaukee Bucks’
Mascot Bango, the Hoop Troop and more
Location: Interviews/Visuals:
Jazale’s Art Studio – 1950 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Block party to occur on W. Brown St. between MLK Dr. and 2nd St.
Boys & Girls Clubs’ members
Vedale Hill, Mural Arts Instructor
Youth Artists unveiling Building Bridges art project
Club members, staff, community members and local artists participating in block party
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM), one of the largest and longest youth-serving agencies in Milwaukee, offers structured after-school and summer programming to more than 41,000 children and teens each year. Within the safety of 48 locations, youth have access to free meals, academic support, role models and opportunities to build character and explore new interests. More than 80 percent of the organization’s annual budget goes toward youth programming. Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized charity evaluator, has given BGCGM its highest rating. For more information, please visit www.BoysGirlsClubs.org.
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