“Remembering Mandela”

 

by Paris Dailey

Students in TMP’s Art for Social Justice Friday Project gathered at the Santa Fe School of Art and Design last month to help put on the exhibit “Remembering Nelson Mandela,” commemorating the great fighter against in the injustice of apartheid in South Africa.  You might be asking why they would do this?  Because teenagers also experience prejudice and judgement as to what they can and can’t do.  These young artists are not just participating to represent their school; they’re also involved because they want social justice as teenagers going into their adult lives.  In addition to helping set up the exhibit, they even have some of their own works on display….

 

The group as whole has an interest in removing the barriers that exist between the perceptions people have of high school students and reality of being a high school student. The sponsor of the group, Scott Hauenstein, is also a teacher at TMP.  Scott says, “These students have volunteered for this opportunity to help hang this Africa show about Nelson Mandela. This is an opportunity for them to learn how to put up and hang a show, which is very important for young artists to know.”