Protecting
America's Children: A National Message Mural
A Message from the artist, Xavier
Cortada
Art is expression.
It is voice.
As an artist, I create art that helps
amplify the voices of those who aren't
usually heard; those who most need to be
heard. Invariably, this finds me creating
art with and for children. I did so recently
when I created
Protecting America's Children: A National
Message Mural to
commemorate
Children's Memorial Flay Day
and raise awareness
about the many children who are harmed and
killed annually. In creating the mural, I
incorporated student poetry and thoughts
posted on the CWLA website by folks from
across the country.
When students from Washington, DC's IDEA
Charter School unveiled the mural before the
invited dignitaries, I reminded them why it
was that we were all there. I informed them
that we were there for them. I explained
that they mattered; that although they are a
fraction of our population, they are 100% of
our future. I told them that we were here to
support and encourage them in a world that
isn't always inviting.
Children are indeed our most precious
resource--they are all we as a society will
become. As such, children deserve to be our
top priority--individually and collectively.
Sadly, at times, many of them are forgotten
and ignored. Worse, some of them are victims
to abuse and violence.
During Child Abuse Prevention Month,
CWLA invites all of us to reflect on what we
do personally and societally to ensure that
our children have a brighter future. Through
the
Children's Memorial Flag campaign,
CWLA encourages us to become more involved
and more responsible.
My
Protecting America's Children mural project
helped further this
campaign. Dozens of Americans logged on to
the CWLA website and committed themselves to
improve the lives of our children.
Their statements
were printed and glued on the background of
the collaborative mural, along with those of
IDEA Charter School
students.
The mural now hangs in the IDEA Charter
School library, and students walk by and see
it every day. It contains words that remind
them that they do matter. Words that explain
we are listening. Words that promise we are
here for them, that they are not alone.
Xavier Cortada
has exhibited his works in museums, galleries, and cultural venues around the world and
has pioneered the use of the Internet in collaborative art-making. The Miami-based
Cuban-American artist, attorney, and activist has worked collaboratively with diverse
groups across the United States, Latin America, Europe and Africa to create pro-social
community murals and participant-driven art projects.
Cortada has created
art for:
The White House
The World Bank
The Florida Capitol
The Florida Supreme Court
Miami-Dade County Juvenile Courthouse
Miami-Dade Art in Public Places
Miami Art Museum
World AIDS Conferences
Nike
