International Women’s Day 2019 Mural Workshop

Written By BOHIE
IMG_7281.JPG
InternationalWomensDayMural14.JPG
InternationalWomensDayMural5.JPG
InternationalWomensDayMural39.JPG
InternationalWomensDayMural35.JPG
InternationalWomensDayMural6.JPG
InternationalWomensDayMural18.JPG
IMG_7234.JPG
InternationalWomensDayMural40.JPG
InternationalWomensDayMural43.jpg

Wow we had suuuuch an amazing International Womens Day down in the Canberra Center, ACT 2019.

We started the project at the YWCA (Youth and Community Center) with four young female from Langyon High.

With the chosen theme, “TOGETHER WE CAN…”, we workshopped EXPRESSIVE TYPE and how to make words like “support” “empower” and “rock on!” radiate their meaning visually (lots of BEAMS!). The girls nailed it!! The last step of the mural was to ask all the participants to finish the sentence “Together, we can...” onto the final mural wall, and the responses were absolutely sensational!

Massive thank you’s to Sanchos Dirty Laundry for their sponsorship on spray cans and paint pens, we had an absolute blast with them! And thanks to the Canberra Graffiti Coordinator Lisa Petheram and to the Youth Center mega dream team for facilitating this incredibly important conversation. Fantastic support and facilitation from the YWCA youth center, painting assistance and workshopping with a wonderful bunch of young female leaders from Langyon High.

For more information about this project, head over to YWCA Canberra for a write up about the project. Below is an excerpt from the article:

"The International Women’s Day Mural Street Art Project, ‘Together, We Can’, was an opportunity for young high school students, who identify as female, to create connections, build rapport, brainstorm ideas, use different resources and learn new art skills, such as mural creation, stencilling, typography and painting. Throughout discussion points, we created a safe space to explore feminism, acknowledge the women that have come before us, applaud the inspirational women of today and talk about the challenges we face, while fostering the need to continue to build momentum towards a future based in equality for all women and girls.

Due to the high calibre of applications to be involved in the project, two outstanding artists were chosen to lead individual workshops. The first mural concept created by accomplished typographer and sign writer, Bohie, asked participants to look positively to the future by leading the Lanyon High students to finish the sentence ‘Together, we can…’. Some examples of what the young people came up with were ‘say yes’, ‘say no’, ‘breakdown stereotypes’, ‘have equal opportunities’, ‘validate each other’, ‘respect ourselves’, ‘have boundaries’ and ‘be respected’. The artwork showcased several raised fists signifying strength and resilience. The students then answered the question with their own unique artistic expression which they stencilled onto the mural.”

 
 
BOHIE

Based in Braidwood, NSW, BOHIE creates art, illustration, public space murals, and creative workshopping experiences that explore wonder and connection to each other and to the natural world.

She works alongside educational institutions, government agencies, community focus groups and stewards of the natural world to design change-making campaigns for each creative project. Bohie utilises a research-based methodology to find inspiration for her artworks, resulting in 2D images which are laden with deeper stories and symbolic meaning.

This narrative driven conceptual development injects her unique authenticity and grass-roots integrity into the public arena, which she sees as a conscious challenge to public advertising. In a time of rapid change, extreme instability and a globally recognised feeling of imminent threat, Bohie’s art provides messages of hope and empowerment for a changed future.

https://www.bohie.com.au
Previous

Community Engagement Mural Workshop at Narrabundah Sports Field