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Voting Rights are Human Rights
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Voting Rights are Human Rights

The Role of Art in Civic Engagement

Importance of Voting and Community Involvement

  • The speaker emphasizes pride in the city and the desire to showcase its cultural significance through art.
  • A call from Yossi Sargent, former arts liaison for President Obama, initiated a project involving street artists to promote voting awareness.
  • The aim is to remind citizens about the importance of asserting their right to vote.

Artistic Inspiration and Collaboration

  • The artwork draws inspiration from an iconic image of a civil rights marcher, symbolizing determination in the ongoing fight for justice.
  • Several artists were recommended by Wallpapered City, reflecting a shared philosophical approach towards social change through art.

Engaging Local Artists for Social Justice

  • The speaker expresses gratitude that many local artists were willing to collaborate on the mural focused on voting rights and social justice.
  • Highlighting the need for cities like Milwaukee to engage with national artistic movements while also uplifting local talent.

Art as a Medium for Change

  • Shepard Fairey’s work exemplifies "art with a purpose," aiming to inspire individuals about their voices' impact on shaping future societal outcomes.
Video description

What I wanted to do on my last trip to Milwaukee is remind people how important it is to assert their right to vote. The inspiration behind the art of this "Voting Rights are Human Rights" mural is the image of an anonymous marcher from a civil rights march, originally photographed by Steve Schapiro. I felt that this subject is emblematic of the ongoing fight. It was important to me that I wasn’t the only voice in this piece. I feel very lucky that artists Tyanna Buie, Niki Johnson, Tom Jones, Claudio Martinez, and Dyani Whitehawk, were open to being included in the mural to demonstrate the need for voting rights and racial and social justice! I hope that people will look at this mural and be reminded that their voice matters in shaping the future. Special thanks to my mural crew for all the hard work, Hanson Dodge for this awesome video, and to Wallpapered City, Black Box Fund, the Milwaukee Bucks for the support on this project! -Shepard