Scholars attended the first Art Future NYC Youth Alliance summit on March 9th, organized by The Joan Mitchell Foundation Alumni Council, No Longer Empty Youth Action Council, and Brooklyn Museum Teens. The day consisted of artist panels, workshops, activities, and discussions that allowed youth to reflect on a variety of art college and career paths. The program’s intended goal was to provide a space where students of color from low income backgrounds could explore art and design career options within a social justice framework.
At the event Junior Scholars exhibited a group show titled “The Whitney Project.” The project highlighted the discovery that Vice Chairmen Warren B. Kanders of the Whitney Board of Directors owns a manufacturer titled “Safariland” that is supplying tear gas to I.C.E at the border and riot gear to police men that manned protests such as the Black Lives MATTER protest in Ferguson. Juniors prepared statements in response to the incident and discussed the importance of using art to hold institutions responsible and speak out against injustice. They highlighted the importance of a museum to represent their communities and uphold community values. Go here to check out the publication they created, along with images of the artwork.
