Thank you to Jahru, Julia, and the rest of the Future History Now crew for having me out as a teaching artist and collaborative designer on this colorful 4000-square-foot basketball court mural at studio 39 with the Performing and Visual Arts program staff and students.

     

       The three figures depicted are (L-R): Xiye Bastida, a Mexican-Chilean climate activist and member of the indigenous Mexican Otomi-Toltec nation; Rahul Negi, one of forty students at the Himalayan English School in Ghansali, India, with whom FHN collaborated on a Ganges River-themed mural; and Amanda Gorman, an American poet, and activist who was the first to be named National Youth Poet Laureate.

 

       I have always loved working with Future History Now. FHN is a wonderful non-profit organization that brings together teaching and youth artists to provide a safe space to nurture creative thinking and self-expression for the youth of the greater Annapolis area. 
   
      Thank you to everyone on the team who made this ground mural possible: Jeff "Jahru" Huntington, Julia Gibb. Luther Wright, Stephanie Baker, Nikki Brooks, Melanie Royster, Eliza Macaluso, Jack Turner, David Kauffman, Johnny Weissgerber, Bates Middle School PVA, Amber Proctor, Dianne Shenton, Anne Arundel County Schools, City of Annapolis, Luna Blu Annapolis, Delegate Shaneka Henson, Senator Sarah Elfreth, Delegate Dana Jones, and Delegate Heather Bagnall. 

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Please visit Future History Now to donate and learn about other youth projects.

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Original Photos: Pamela Elizarraras,  Kelia Anne

Design: Jeff 'Jahru' Huntington and The Artist Oliver James

Photography/Videography: Oliver James Studios