San Ramon Community Art Project Encourages Racial Equity Dialogue

Press release from the San Ramon Social Justice Collective:

Feb. 25, 2021

Today the San Ramon Social Justice Collective (SRSJC) announced a Call for Art Submissions for a racial-equity, community-art project called, Breathing Free Together. Approved by the City of San Ramon, artworks will be showcased via a series of banners on public display as a living, moving testimony of the community's expression and commitment to racial equity, healing, justice, harmony. This summer an inaugural celebration is tentatively scheduled to kick off this banner series at a prominent location in San Ramon, followed by additional locations including schools.

“The Breathing Free Together art project has a unique way of moving the needle forward by encouraging dialogue on racial equity and justice. It gives a platform for those who feel voiceless, leading to healing through collaboration and understanding, a true service to the community. Public art should reflect the community around it, and represent the hopes and lives of all community members,” shared Beverly Kumar District 2, Arts and Culture Commissioner of Contra Costa County in a public comment.

“I hope this project will reflect that we don’t have to isolate ourselves because it’s uncomfortable. We can get into those uncomfortable spaces and have the conversations through art. If we open up dialogue we can embrace our differences and bring our community closer together,” said Tiana Day, Founder, Youth Advocates for Change in a support video.

Art Submissions for Breathing Free Together (flyer)

Artwork must fall within this theme which connects with the heart of the Black Lives Matter movement. The theme reflects that breathing is the most basic act of life which unites us all. Every being on earth is connected by the single act of breathing. The current pandemic also unmasked the inherent racial inequities in our systems, tying our basic survival to our individual ability to access resources and safety. The theme of Breathing Free Together invites us all to come together in unity to embrace racial equity, harmony, healing, and justice.

• Submit artwork online at: https://tinyurl.com/yyabhxl8
• Submissions due March 7, 2021 by 5:00pm PT.
• Anyone from the San Ramon Valley may submit artwork.
• Individual and family submissions welcome.
• All forms of visual artwork submissions are welcome, including paintings, drawings, photographs and digitally created graphic art pieces
• Paper size of approximately 12’X17’.
• Image format in jpg or png.

This press release was produced by the San Ramon Social Justice Collective. The views expressed here are the author's own.