In the first week of summits, we explored various ways that artists represent different communities, events, and histories of discrimination, oppression, and resistance, in both explicit and subtle ways. We spent time in Cal Anderson at the AIDS Memorial Pathway and the Black Lives Matter mural, we went to the Pacific Bonsai Museum, and we learned about dismantling confederate statues. We also studied the controversy around the statue of George Washington at UW. Moreover, we learned various techniques that were used to create monuments. For me, the techniques that I  really enjoy are murals and collage.

For me, this is more than just a sketchbook. It means so much to me. I had so much fun with this and I learned a lot. I learned vocabulary, art skills, and more about monuments and the histories related to them. I learned to understand the stories they are trying to convey and I made my own monument to tell a story of honor for MLK.

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ARTIST BIO:
My name is Alan Vuong (he/him), class of 2024. I like reading sci-fi books and painting miniatures. I hope that my work acts as a“Wayfinder” and will help future faculty and students to learn more about the short but brilliant life of MLK.

Shoutout to James Blake who constructed the Wayfinders.