Behind the Scenes

Fourteen classes at Golden Hill K-8, Lindsay Community School and Monarch School participated in Art & Lit in February as the nation celebrated Black History Month and California geared up for the presidential primary. Showcasing the work became trickier than expected when gatherings were canceled and schools closed in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, but we knew these messages still needed to be heard.

After weeks of shipping materials back and forth, partner artist Natalie Godinez printing the center letters with materials found in her home, and volunteers sewing banners in their living rooms to piece together students’ work — partner artist Jennifer Frost Moreno pulled the vision together, albeit slightly different than initially imagined. This work was installed over two days as Black Lives Matter protesters began showing up in historic ways across the country.

We’re proud to stand up for justice and honored to finally showcase The Future is Us, an exhibit that gives under-represented youth a microphone to amplify their voices and a platform to make change.