ink, watercolor, colored pencil; 16×20”
“My social justice topic is violent protests. Protest can bring about positive change in our communities and in our world, as well as spread awareness about an issue. In my piece I used a fist to symbolize protest, as it is a common symbol for several political and protest groups in history. I didn’t want the fist to represent violent protest because I didn’t want to portray these groups as inherently violent. I instead wanted to show how peaceful protest prevails over violence. The fist is holding onto an olive branch, a symbol of peace, while the brick wall behind it is breaking and cracking, showing how peaceful protest can triumph over oppression. Protesting is an important part of our country’s history, and without it we would not be where we are today. That includes violent protests. Although violence should never have to be the answer, sometimes it’s necessary to enact change. Despite this, some of the most effective and impactful protests are peaceful ones. Peace can be used as a weapon just as powerfully as violence. In the face of violence, what better opposition is there than peace? It brings people together rather than tear them apart, which should be our goal as a society.”
ARTIST BIO: Toby Miller is a grade 12 student at Butler Tech School of Art studying art under art teacher Mary Catherine Ruby.