drypoint etching; 10×10″ (image 6×6″)

“I chose freedom because I’ve seen so many people say America is the “Land of the Free” but I’ve learned that people can’t wear what they want, like who they want, be a certain gender, have a certain skin color, can’t voice their opinion without facing discrimination or people being rude and disrespectful about it. I came up with my idea by drawing a bird in a cage and an American eagle flying away with the key to symbolize how it’s like pet owners who just lock up their birds with no freedom. The bird can’t voice it’s opinion or speak up for itself because it’s only an animal. My message is that people shouldn’t be silenced or have their freedom taken away just because of their beliefs, gender, race, and sexuality and that everyone should be able to express themself freely without having to face hurtful and disrespectful comments from other people.”

ARTIST BIO: Elly Amlin is a Freshman at Oak Hills High School, currently enrolled in Drawing and Printmaking. Elly’s work focuses on the interpretation of an Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.