RESTORE MEANS TO FIX OR BRING SOMETHING BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS

There is also restorative justice. The goal of restorative justice systems is to focus on repairing the harm caused by having the person take responsibility and accountability to fix the problem themselves. Restorative justice hopes to help the person who was harmed and support the person who caused the harm to make better choices afterward.

TRANSFORM MEANS TO CHANGE

There is also transformative justice. The goal of transformative justice is to not respond to violence with more violence but with community care and safety plans. It tries to stop people from needing or wanting to break the rules from the start. This means a community has systems that stop people from doing something unjust. Transformative justice warriors want to transform and change the situation that allowed harm to happen in the first place by having systems in place to support people.

LET US REIMAGINE JUSTICE

How might you, your friends, family, and community help create a support system that encourages people to make appropriate choices? How might we shape a community that cares and sets people up for success?

IN THIS ACTIVITY, YOU WILL

create art that celebrates and teaches others about an activist.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Activists make a positive difference in the world by speaking out against injustice. Artists use images to inspire others to act on important issues. One such artist is Faith Ringgold, who protested and created art to make the world see that women artists, and artists of color, are underrepresented in museums. Because of her and other activists, more artists of diverse identities are showing their art in museums worldwide.

LET’S GET STARTED!

1. Think of an activist you would like to teach others about and celebrate. This activist can be from the past or one who is living.

2. Find pictures of the activist to use as reference. If you need help drawing faces, look at the visual references on these pages. You can either draw the whole person or crop half of the body, but make the drawing unique to your style and not a copy of what you see. Fig. 1

For example, Faith Ringgold wants galleries and museums to show more women artists, so I included posters in a protest that she would have participated in and organized. Fig. 2

4. Add details using oil pastels and text to teach people about the cause that is important to your activist. Fig. 3

I covered all the white paper with oil pastels. I then covered the oil pastels with black ink. You can also use black acrylic or tempera. I then added text to the posters and signs carried by protestors behind her. Fig. 4

5. Scratch through the ink with a wood stylus to reveal the oil pastel colors in the background to create more details or a picture. In my case, I drew individual people to create a crowd in a protest. Fig. 5

IN THIS ACTIVITY, YOU WILL

create a work of art that uses text to make a powerful statement.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Imagery can be a powerful tool for communication, but so can words! Words can be used like pictures to communicate ideas outside of written documents. Sometimes, it’s hard to find words when we are affected by injustice. The words are jumbled in our minds, but remember that your voice is important and can still effect change. Today, you can share an idea by creating artwork that emphasizes using text as art.

LET’S GET STARTED!

1. What positive change do you want to see in the world? How can you educate the public about this cause? Look for text in newspapers, magazines, or books that inspires you and cut out a few pieces to collage.

2. Glue the text to a sheet of paper with an acrylic medium to start creating your background. Fig. 1

3. Use watercolor paint to add color to your text. Think about which colors will support your message. Fig. 2

4. Consider how you want to draw the idea of using your voice even when you don’t have the words. I drew a mouth, but other images you can choose can be a megaphone, lightning, or zigzags to show a speaker or power. Fig. 3

5. Use drawing materials and/or stencils to add letters or other icons on top of your background. Your letters can spell out something that communicates what you want to say, or feel free to jumble your letters up to show that sometimes we don’t have the words to express our sadness or frustration. That’s why we have art! Fig. 4

6. Cut out and glue your image from step 4 on top of your text. Remember, text alone can be art, so you don’t need an image to complete your artwork. Fig. 5

IN THIS ACTIVITY, YOU WILL

create a miniature billboard that comments on a social issue.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Social commentary is when you have a strong opinion on a current societal issue and use it to promote change by informing the public. We can use images and text to advocate for our ideas through art to achieve justice.

LET’S GET STARTED!

1. Think about an issue you wish you could change in your community. What is the problem, and why do you want to change it?

2. Fold a piece of paper in half and cut out a rectangle along the open bottom. Use a ruler to draw a larger rectangle on the top. Fig. 1

3. Sketch your billboard sign using images and words to describe the issue, raise awareness, and advocate for justice. Fig. 2

4. Use crayons, colored pencils, or markers to add color to your billboard. Fig. 3

5. Share your work with others! Consider submitting your design to a local billboard art competition or raise funds to display your art within your community on a larger scale. Fig. 4

IN THIS ACTIVITY, YOU WILL

create a draft for a mural about an issue you want to bring to the public’s attention.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Public artworks are created for the general public to see outside a museum or gallery space. They can make a place more beautiful and generate conversation about an important issue. Artists create art in public spaces for all to see while celebrating and bringing attention to important causes in their communities.

LET’S GET STARTED!

1. If you had an opportunity to make a mural that brings attention to an issue you care about, what would it say? What imagery would communicate your ideas well? Write down your thoughts or sketch them out.

2. Take pictures of textured surfaces that can resemble a wall, such as bricks, asphalt, stone, sidewalks, and more. Fig. 1

3. Use a pencil to draw your design on your wall surface. Fig. 2

4. Add color using paint markers to make your design vibrant. Murals are supposed to attract attention and beautify the environment, so use bold lines and colors. Feel free to include text. Fig. 3