Young people’s voices should be included in conversations about making their neighborhoods and schools safe, supportive spaces where they can thrive. Their perspectives on fairness, safety, and community can inspire action toward a future free from violence and full of opportunity. To amplify their voices and creative expression, the Center for Youth Equity at Tulane University invited young artists in the New Orleans area to submit original artwork on the theme of “Liberation” for a contest and exhibition. A judging panel selected winners of a Grand Prize award, prizes in each age group, and honorable mentions. All entrants have their art included in this exhibit and on this webpage.
Prize Winners
Grand Prize
Khalil Mcknight
My hair is a way of self-expression; awkwardly unknotting every follicle and overlapping each loc eventually molds the two strand twists. I initially decided to grow out my hair to combat my anxiety, using it to cover my eyes from my surroundings. Years later, I realized the troubles that came with my younger self's innocent decision: constantly being racially profiled and discriminated against, forced to endure an even greater fear.
11 to 12 Age Group
Elaine Sun
The art piece is called 'Solutions'. It is meant to represent many different aspects of the word "Liberation". However, it can be interpreted in any way the viewer believes is right.
13 to 14 Age Group
Ilesa Hinkle
"Freedom," co-written and performed by artist Jon Batiste, inspired this artwork. The female and male musicians stand together, demonstrating equal power and opportunity in financial independence, education, and personal growth. The breaking chains evolving into doves represent escaping oppression from war and racial inequity. The rainbow reflects acceptance of the LGBTQ community and breadth of sexuality. Finally, the sunrise indicates the dawning release from social constraints.
15 to 17 Age Group
Shawn Carter
As we all know, the crystal is supposed to make out self love. This art piece was made over the theme of substitution, because of the fact that many, if not most people crave to be set free; released; liberated from pain. When we're hurting, we tend to feel overwhelmed, trapped, or imprisoned with emotion. This piece represents wanting to be done with pain and heartbreak, using something such as that crystal as a source of healing and relief. I created this piece to express the way I used my crystals as a way to get away from things I didn't want to deal with, to liberate myself from my own emotions. This piece, having something to do with the theme of substitution, can relate to a lot of people, representing mental health, emotional awareness, and also the feeling of wanting to "escape" from life. In this, I wanted to give out a different perspective on the word 'liberation'; breaking free. When it comes to topics such as liberation, usually, society would only think about race, gender, or sexuality, but truly, no one ever really considers mental health.
18 to 21 Age Group
Kendrik James
"Men Are Human Too" is about liberation from toxic masculinity. The young black man is removing the tape that symbolizes the abusive teachings that trap men into believing that they cannot show weakness of any kind, including loving openly and expressing their emotions. He is liberating himself of the confinement that toxic masculinity has taught him by speaking his emotions while tears fall to show his pain. The hands on his shoulders capture the warm support and understanding of loved ones for his moment of weakness, reminding him he is no less of a "man" and that he is human.
Honorable Mention Awards
Samarah Bentley, Louise Bohan, Tatyana Gross, Christian Jackson, Micah Jeansonne, Maggie Livaccari, Samiyah Payton, and Akeem Sinegal.
11 to 12 Age Group
13 to 14 Age Group
15 to 17 Age Group
18 to 21 Age Group
Thank You to Judging Panel of Yashira Lopez Davalos, Tom Friel, & Ayo Scott, Coordinating Committee Members Alex Jaouiche, Carrie Moulder, & Camila Santi, VPI Staff & Executive Team, and Tulane School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine.
About the Center for Youth Equity | The Center for Youth Equity is a culturally responsive youth violence prevention research center embedded within the ongoing community partnerships and existing infrastructure of the Violence Prevention Institute of Tulane University to build and strengthen the network for youth violence prevention in New Orleans and across the Gulf South. It receives funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of their National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention (YVPCs).
Credits:
Paula Burch-Celentano