YOUTH INSPIRED BY BLACK HISTORY MONTH ART
Murals of Dr. King, Malcolm X, Mac Dre, Osby Davis, Philmore Graham are showcased
Powerful and subjective art from different perspectives came together as the Boys & Girls Empowerment Group of Vallejo and One People Tribe collaborated on Saturday for the “Black Dreams Youth Art Exhibit.”
This exhibit was designed to learn, grow, and inspire Vallejo’s young community for Black History Month.
Mac Dre, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Madam C. Walker, Michelle and Barack Obama were muralised for this event. The exhibit also had murals of Vallejo’s very own — Osby Davis, Joseph Jones, and Foster Hicks. Additionally, a grand tribute painting of the founder of the Omega Boys and Girls Club, Philmore Graham, was painted on a wall.
Davis was honored with a mural of himself.
“It’s humbling. You never do things for recognition. You do things because it’s the right thing to do,” said Davis. “I think this is a good start. I grew up in a time when I had to sit in the back of the bus and we came a long way in the ‘60s trying to break down those barriers. And now I see we are moving in the same direction that we fought against back in the ‘60s. That concerns me. That’s why an event like this is very important.”
One People Tribe’s CEO Izzy Drumgoole asssted The Boys & Girls Empowerment in creating murals in its building. The building has tall, wide windows that are great for practicing mural painting. One People Tribe members created the mural of Philmore Graham, which inspired the Black Dreams Youth Event.
“I think that art is just as, if not more, important than some of the other subjects that are taught in traditional public education,” said Drumgoole. “To me it is medicine, therapy, and healing. Growing up in the ‘80s I couldn’t wait for summer school because they had all types of art.”
The event was followed by painting activities for the children hosted by Dr. Kerby Lynch, ambassador for the Vallejo Arts Fund. Boys & Girls Empowerment Group’s own Essex Cook hosted a grant writing workshop. Cook hopes this event displays the “very rich and real culture of art that derives from
One People Tribe members Samantha Ponds and Juliette Abbott, who participated in the project, would “definitely” recommend painting to their peers.
“I like painting. I think it’s therapeutic. It teaches you to be patient,” said Ponds. “I’ve been in paint shows for schools. The most rewarding part of painting these murals was the process of building the community and getting to know new faces.”