Celebrating freedom and diversity with I Am Academy, through the arts.
We had a perfect day to celebrate Juneteenth with the Holland community this summer! We commissioned a custom poster, designed and screen printed by Student Advisory Council member Zoe Sample. Her 5-layer print celebrates the beauty and strength of Black women, and honors natural Black hair. Along with printing posters, Zoe designed and painted a large collaborative piece, on which participants added phrases, names, and positive messages memorializing Black heroes and victims of racist violence.
In addition to Zoe’s piece, participants collaborated on a series of wheel-thrown ceramic vessels, using carving tools and underglazes to add decoration and designs. This project was inspired by Theaster Gates’ Black Vessel exhibit in 2022.
We also used hand-carved stamps to create colorful prints commemorating the day. We’re so grateful to I Am Academy for hosting another incredible festival!
