Healing Mural: Stories & Art with Hiawatha D.
Donation protected
We are so grateful for this strong coalition of supporters! Today we are excited to announce that the rocks are coming down and that we are moving forward into the art production phase in early August! Blaine Families and Staff, alumni families, the PTA, art enthusiasts, citizens from the Magnolia Community and City of Seattle, people from across Washington State in the 509 and beyond and in-between, have together stepped up to support this timely and needed healing mural and educational opportunity.
Please check this site and your email boxes for updates and inspiration. Pre-recorded video will be captured and shared as the art and storytelling dimensions come to life. We will also update on opportunities for a live, virtual session with our artists and storytellers to be held in early fall with the start of the school year.
We remain committed to grassroots fundraising and value and celebrate gifts of any dollar amount. Please encourage others to contribute and help us meet our fundraising goal.
Thank you everyone again!
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
We are asking for financial support to design and paint a mural by Hiawatha D. in the Catharine Blaine K8 School gymnasium.
In the middle of a global pandemic students and families are facing horrific images of trauma, pain and national protests. They are demanding justice, equality and peace.
In the face of so much tragedy for African American people— students and parents are finishing school virtually while trying to make sense out of why so many Black people are dying at the hands of police. Students are struggling to understand racism in our country and why it is necessary to protest and proclaim that Black Lives Matter.
As parents, educators, leaders and community members our students will never forget how we responded to this critical time in the life of their education. They will remember our action or inaction— let’s act!
Blaine is in a predominantly white neighborhood in Seattle with an adjoining public community center. The school gym is used by 600+ students throughout the school year, as well as for weekly activities and events for the entire community.
This mural will celebrate and affirm the fact that Black people should be seen and heard in a place where they don’t often see themselves reflected in the community. We believe this collective action during this historic time has the power to create an invaluable legacy for our generation.
Long before an exceptional body of work and recent features in Forbes and The Seattle Times about the nationally acclaimed Iconic Black Women art exhibition at the Northwest African American Museum, Hiawatha D.’s wife, Veronica was bussed by Seattle Public Schools to Briarcliff Elementary and to Catharine Blaine Junior High. Although Veronica established lifelong friendships in the school, it was at Blaine where she experienced her first conscious encounter with racism.
Decades later, Hiawatha D. intentionally chose Blaine for his daughter and son, Ebony and Hiawatha III, who both became teachers. Blaine threads through the lives of both Hiawatha D. and Veronica, spanning decades of connection and memories, including Spring Break in 2004 when Hiawatha D. volunteered his time and artistry to work with Blaine students to paint the existing mural.
Existing mural painted by Hiawatha D. and Blaine students.
Hiawatha D. with Blaine Students at the Northwest African American Museum.
We are inviting Hiawatha D. to bring his talents back to our community full circle for a culturally driven educational experience that provides an opportunity for students and families to engage, learn and heal through African American stories and art.
"It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people." — Martin Luther King Jr.
Please check this site and your email boxes for updates and inspiration. Pre-recorded video will be captured and shared as the art and storytelling dimensions come to life. We will also update on opportunities for a live, virtual session with our artists and storytellers to be held in early fall with the start of the school year.
We remain committed to grassroots fundraising and value and celebrate gifts of any dollar amount. Please encourage others to contribute and help us meet our fundraising goal.
Thank you everyone again!
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
We are asking for financial support to design and paint a mural by Hiawatha D. in the Catharine Blaine K8 School gymnasium.
In the middle of a global pandemic students and families are facing horrific images of trauma, pain and national protests. They are demanding justice, equality and peace.
In the face of so much tragedy for African American people— students and parents are finishing school virtually while trying to make sense out of why so many Black people are dying at the hands of police. Students are struggling to understand racism in our country and why it is necessary to protest and proclaim that Black Lives Matter.
As parents, educators, leaders and community members our students will never forget how we responded to this critical time in the life of their education. They will remember our action or inaction— let’s act!
Blaine is in a predominantly white neighborhood in Seattle with an adjoining public community center. The school gym is used by 600+ students throughout the school year, as well as for weekly activities and events for the entire community.
This mural will celebrate and affirm the fact that Black people should be seen and heard in a place where they don’t often see themselves reflected in the community. We believe this collective action during this historic time has the power to create an invaluable legacy for our generation.
Long before an exceptional body of work and recent features in Forbes and The Seattle Times about the nationally acclaimed Iconic Black Women art exhibition at the Northwest African American Museum, Hiawatha D.’s wife, Veronica was bussed by Seattle Public Schools to Briarcliff Elementary and to Catharine Blaine Junior High. Although Veronica established lifelong friendships in the school, it was at Blaine where she experienced her first conscious encounter with racism.
Decades later, Hiawatha D. intentionally chose Blaine for his daughter and son, Ebony and Hiawatha III, who both became teachers. Blaine threads through the lives of both Hiawatha D. and Veronica, spanning decades of connection and memories, including Spring Break in 2004 when Hiawatha D. volunteered his time and artistry to work with Blaine students to paint the existing mural.
Existing mural painted by Hiawatha D. and Blaine students.
Hiawatha D. with Blaine Students at the Northwest African American Museum.
We are inviting Hiawatha D. to bring his talents back to our community full circle for a culturally driven educational experience that provides an opportunity for students and families to engage, learn and heal through African American stories and art.
"It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people." — Martin Luther King Jr.
Organizer and beneficiary
Trina Pickens
Organizer
Seattle, WA
Katrina Pickens
Beneficiary
