Hartford Public Library President and CEO Bridget E. Quinn speaks with guests at a closing reception for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Art in Action exhibition.
Last year was particularly disorienting for youth in Greater Hartford as COVID-19 forced them to abandon their classrooms for online learning and important milestones like proms, birthday parties and graduations had to be postponed.
And the summer brought social justice protests that put a spotlight on racial inequality in Connecticut and across the country.
QR codes on each piece of art can be scanned to learn more about the artists.
With those themes as the backdrop, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving last year asked students throughout the region to submit works that captured their thoughts and emotions in the time of pandemic and protest. That call culminated in the Art in Action: Young Artists’ Vision of 2020 touring exhibition which made its last stop at Hartford Public Library’s Downtown Library, with a closing reception held Thursday, Dec. 14.
Jhade Claure, of East Hartford, stands next to her piece “The American Boo Boo Dream” on display at Hartford Public Library’s Downtown Library.
Here is a sampling of the artists’ work, as well as statements they submitted to accompany them:
Taylor Grace Butler / Age 15 / Hartford “Who’s Neckst?” From the artist: This piece was my way of protesting the killing of George Floyd and to ask the question of “Who’s Neckst?” As in who will be next to be killed as a Black person.
Ben Tartaglia / Age 16 / West Hartford “The Bigger Picture” From the artist: This is a visual representation of the fact that it may take one event full of tragedy and despair to unite those around us, of all color and ethnicity, for the purpose of bringing justice to where it is needed most.
Abigail Aggarwala / Age 14 / Vernon “Smile” From the artist: My artwork conveys the emotion that this has been a very stressful time for many people, but they are hiding it, masking their emotions. This particular piece is a self portrait.
Hasini Pasagadugula / Age 13 / Glastonbury “The Path To Recovery” From the artist: The left side of the face is darker and symbolizes the dark times at the beginning of the year. The right eye is not completely well because the virus is still present, but we are in a better position than we were.
Ben Tartaglia / Age 16 / West Hartford “The Bigger Picture” From the artist: This is a visual representation of the fact that it may take one event full of tragedy and despair to unite those around us, of all color and ethnicity, for the purpose of bringing justice to where it is needed most.
For more information about the artists, or to get a closer look at their work, click here.