Video Production: Jordan Somers
Mural program/project with the youth of the Alcove (formerly known as Las Alturas) community in Burien, WA . I partnered with Urban Artworks and poet Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe to design and lead a program to heal community wounds and to amplify the powerful voices of the brilliant young folks who are the future of Burien.
Activities included; sketchbook practice exploring personal stories and identity, creating typographic self-portraits, making counter-narrative Loteria cards (XITO Institute), creating a community Zine, building a Monica Mayer inspired "Tendedero" which included visiting a neighborhood farmers market to engage with community vendors and residents, and designing and painting a mural on the site where Elizabeth Juarez and Eveona Cortez tragically lost their lives to gang violence in 2019.
Too often, reports of tragedy and violence in this community make the news, while stories of the community's richness, beauty, talents, and bright future go unheard. This mural was an opportunity for a different community narrative to be broadcast. I am grateful to say Q13 News, The Seattle Times, and the B-Town Blog covered this project--the world should know about the richness of the Burien community and their precious youth.
This project would not have been possible without the unparalleled support and talents of Amanda Hashagen and Paul Nunn at Urban Artworks, Nancy Salguero McKay, and the Highline Heritage Museum, and my co-teaching team; Sasha Lapointe, Natalia Sotelo, Aurelio Valdez, and Eboni B. Wyatt.
This project was made possible with funding from the city of Burien.
Activities included; sketchbook practice exploring personal stories and identity, creating typographic self-portraits, making counter-narrative Loteria cards (XITO Institute), creating a community Zine, building a Monica Mayer inspired "Tendedero" which included visiting a neighborhood farmers market to engage with community vendors and residents, and designing and painting a mural on the site where Elizabeth Juarez and Eveona Cortez tragically lost their lives to gang violence in 2019.
Too often, reports of tragedy and violence in this community make the news, while stories of the community's richness, beauty, talents, and bright future go unheard. This mural was an opportunity for a different community narrative to be broadcast. I am grateful to say Q13 News, The Seattle Times, and the B-Town Blog covered this project--the world should know about the richness of the Burien community and their precious youth.
This project would not have been possible without the unparalleled support and talents of Amanda Hashagen and Paul Nunn at Urban Artworks, Nancy Salguero McKay, and the Highline Heritage Museum, and my co-teaching team; Sasha Lapointe, Natalia Sotelo, Aurelio Valdez, and Eboni B. Wyatt.
This project was made possible with funding from the city of Burien.
Press
Seattle Times -- News Article on Burien Mural
Q 13 News-- News Report on Burien Mural
Fox 13 Seattle-- The Spotlight: How one city is fighting graffiti, calming gang tensions
B Town Blog -- Burien Mural Article
Seattle Times -- News Article on Burien Mural
Q 13 News-- News Report on Burien Mural
Fox 13 Seattle-- The Spotlight: How one city is fighting graffiti, calming gang tensions
B Town Blog -- Burien Mural Article