Youth Voices Matter: Our Silence is Not for Sale
Social Justice Billboard Project

In Spring 2021, Youth Art Exchange’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) led the project: Youth Voices Matter: Our Silence is Not For Sale. Youth Art Exchange’s youth artists, all public high school students, created artwork about social justice issues and YAB chose four of these pieces to be featured on two billboards in San Francisco that will be installed in May 2021 at Bayshore and Sunnydale and Mission and 14th Street.

Why did YAB decide to create this project?

“Our project is inspired by the many young activists currently advocating for social and political change; these youth-led organizations, such as those advocating for Vote16, raising awareness about climate change, etc., remind us of the power and influence that youth have. Our goal is to encourage members of the community, particularly youth and BIPOC, to start conversations and enact change regarding the injustices they are passionate about. The billboards will include artwork and designs, centered around the theme of social justice, by YAX artists. Through the virtual billboard launch party, we will be able to showcase the billboards and the process of setting it up; the YAX artists who contributed to the billboards will be able to present their designs and the significance behind them. In having YAX artists contribute to the billboards and share their art, we hope to give them an opportunity to speak about the issues that are important to them. The workshop and interactive portion of the virtual event will hopefully empower others to create their own art and start conversations.”

This project is supported by BLING.

Youth Social Justice Artwork

Read more about each artist and piece below.

“We Are The Key to Liberation”
2D media student Amber L
Watercolor, colored pencils, paint markers, pen, watercolor paper
Featured on a billboard at Bayshore and Sunnydale

The statement "POWER TO THE YOUTH WE ARE THE CHANGE" is drawn at the top. I believe that change comes from all our collective voices pushing for a shift in our political trajectory, and the biggest voices we have, throughout all of history, are the youth. In the middle, is sort of a Captain Underpants character posing, a figure a lot of people in my generation are nostalgic about and remember loving. Surrounding them are protest/awareness signs that represent issues that have been very prevalent in our public discourse: BLM, trans rights, working class exploitation, science legitimacy, climate change, sexual harassment/assault, and xenophobia. Underneath all of that is the Earth, we all live here, it is our one and only home. Who are we to decide that some people don't deserve to live, be heard, or are valid based on their class, race, gender identity, etc. I understand difference in opinion but human rights/needs should not be politicized or monopolized.
*Issues that were left out are no less important than the ones included, these are just examples of problems youth are tackling*

Amber can make good toast.

“Empower Young Artists”
Illustration student Sophia C
India ink, watercolor, and ink pen

The concept for my piece is "youth need art/art changes everything." I feel like art is such an overlooked aspect in educational systems as well as our society. As an artist, I know firsthand the impact of creative outlets. Through art, I've become more aware of my surroundings and attentive to the little details that we normally dismiss while carrying on with our busy days. It has enriched my life in so many ways.

Making art requires just as much skill and time as any other career, yet artists often find themselves barely able to make a living doing what they love. I created this piece to voice that art is powerful, and that we all need it in our lives

“Our Voices Matter“
Photo/Film student, Hannah M
Black and white film photo & digital drawing
Featured on a billboard at Bayshore and Sunnydale

My piece is about validating the voices and struggles of minorities. I wanted to make art about this topic because as a white person, it is important for me to use my privilege to help amplify the voices of people of color.

Photo/Film student, Katie D
“Global Pandemic Protests“
Paint
Featured on a billboard at Mission and 14th

People are protesting about social issues occurring in society till this day such as racial issues, individuals rights, and healthcare during COVID-19. I decided to make art about it because these three are really huge social justice issues that need to be addressed in our society today.

“All In This Together“
Digital Art

My artwork shows how strong everyone can be if we all come together as one. Racism is a major issue in our society; however, if we all stand as a whole, we will always overcome anything and everything through teamwork and conversation. The strongest people are those who have people that are always there supporting and encouraging them. My art piece is about racial injustice and equality. I decided to make art about it because they’re huge issues we should fix in our society today.

“When that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.” - Colin Kaepernick
Fashion Design student, Dot
Pencil sketching

This piece is a sketch of Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem for he was “not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” By kneeling to the flag, Kaepernick peacefully protests against racial injustice that occurs in America, creating a movement of awareness to racial inequality.
I was inspired to make art about this to spread the message that we have lot of social issues that must be brought to life in order to be resolved, and we can only achieve such a goal by making significant change together.

Digital Photography pieces
Photo/Film student, Ivy Z

We Are The Resistance: This picture was taken at the Women's March 2018, an annual march to show women's empowerment. The image shows Princess Leia, a strong and iconic female character. 

Throw Like a Girl: At the Women's March 2018. A little girl carries a sign saying, "All boys should throw like a girl" while wearing a Princess Leia shirt.

Build Peace: At the Women's March 2018. A dad, while pushing a stroller, carries a sign made of LEGO that reads "Build Peace." He is there with his whole family (wife and two kids,) teaching his children from a young age that standing up for what you believe in is important. The LEGO sign was most likely a collaboration between the whole family, as children are typically the ones who play with the colorful bricks, yet the craftsmanship is that of an older person. Even though there are no faces in this picture, love is clear amongst the family. The eldest child is at the bottom of the frame, hanging onto their sibling's stroller. The dad pushes the baby, and the mom brings up the rear. Personally, my favorite detail of this image is the dad's hand. His hand holds the sign, a strong message of peace; and on his finger is his wedding ring, a strong message of love. The LEGO heart says it all. Love and peace will prevail.

Uncivilized Society: During a walkout on March 14, 2018, at City Hall. Two signs read "When we protect guns more than we protect children we become an uncivilized society" and "We demand a ban!" Held above the crowd by a pair of friends.

Uncivilized Society pt. 2: During a walkout on March 14, 2018, at City Hall. A sign is held above the crowd, reading "When we protect guns more than we protect children we become an uncivilized society."

No Place in Our Schools: During a walkout on March 14, 2018, at City Hall. The sign reads "Fear has NO place in our schools" with a gun crossed out. Solemn faces surround it, and a fist is in the bottom left corner.

The World is Listening: During a walkout on March 14, 2018, at City Hall. A youth leader is speaking to the crowd. The media surrounds him, listening in. When youth speak, the world listens.

March: This photo was taken at a protest at City Hall. In the middle of speeches by youth leaders, it started to rain. The rain didn't dampen our spirits, in fact, it amplified them. This candid picture captures the hope we all felt while listening to our peers speaking, not at all worried about getting a little wet for the cause.

"Activism through Art"
Fashion Design student, Monique S
Acrylic paint
Featured on a billboard at Mission and 14th

Within the past few years, various social justice movements have influenced and reshaped our world. Inspired by the young activists of my generation, my painting focuses on the importance of activism through art and self-expression. I believe art is a creative outlet which can strongly affect those around us. Art lets us express our deepest thoughts, strongest emotions, and firmest beliefs. My piece is composed of various icons that represent the social justice topics I am most passionate about. Through this painting, I hope to raise awareness on global warming, feminism, immigrant & LGBTQ+ rights, and the #MeToo, #FreeHK & #BlackLivesMatter movements.

“Peace Patch :)”
Fashion Design student, Wenna
Embroidery and interfacing

The Peace Patch is an embroidery of the peace sign to encourage peace among everyone. I created this because of the rise in anti-Asian attacks. This piece is about the violent attacks against any groups or communities. Violence doesn’t really solve anything, it just starts more problems and causes more pain, hate, and suffering. Instead we should set our differences aside (we are all human after all) and work together to solve the problem and help each other up, not attack each other.

“End Hate. Promote Love”
2D Media student, Antonia R
Graphite pencils

I decided to draw a girl crying with hand prints on her breasts to represent sexual assault and in the background there is police brutality against black people. My piece represents Black Lives Matter and women are NOT objects. For the social justice project I decided to bring awareness to the police brutality and sexual assault that people look past. In the background I drew police beating people and in the front I drew a girl crying and screaming stop with handprints on her breast.

“Heartbroken“
Fashion Design TA, Dalya D
Photography and multimedia

As youth are opinions are simply left out of conversations in politics because we are "too young" or "too inexperienced" to know what changes are needed in our communities. This past election there was a Prop (G) to allow youth 16-18 to vote in municipal elections in the county of San Francisco. Unfortunately this ballot did not pass but it was one step forward into allowing our voices as youth to be recognized at a political level. The youth today are more involved civically then ever before because we recognize the dangers our generation has to meet. The dangers that the older generations created and will not address. For this piece I took a photo that I had of a group of my friends and duplicated it. The middle is very blurred because I wanted to show how we are blurred and not seen when decisions are being made that affect us. I added the hearts to show that we have good intentions and are passionate about change but the broken hearts are the top show that we have not been acknowledged. I used the app procreate.

Dalya is a senior at Lowell High School and is a part of YAX’s Fashion Design class. Outside of Youth Art Exchange, she is a Student Ambassador at World Affairs. She was born in San Francisco but lived in Istanbul for a couple of years. Through this experience she fell in love with the study of diplomacy and how countries interact with each other. She hopes to one day use her passion for fashion to amplify social justice issues internationally.

Photo/Film student, Antonio V
Photography

This shot was taken at the March for Our Lives 2018 protest, which was a student-led march in San Francisco protesting school-shootings and gun violence in the United States.

Antonio Vucic is a local photographer. Check him out at @antoniovucic or at antoniovucic.com