Normal Community High School sociology students have been going above and beyond, organizing community events that make a difference in Bloomington-Normal and around the world.
Last month, Charlie Faulkner organized a music concert at the Coffee House in Uptown Normal to raise money for ocean clean-up. And next weekend, senior Myra Saulat hosts an art exhibition uplifting artists of color, part of a school assignment called “The Impact Project.”
“Uplifting Voices” is an art exhibition curated by Saulat, who organized the gallery from start to finish and will host a March 4 public reception. While the planning process was all she needed to do to finish the assignment, Saulat chose to implement her plan and a way to engage with the artist community.
Saulat said students were required to choose a personal, school or community goal, and were encouraged to pursue an interest they don’t usually have time for.
“My goal was to elevate the student voices of NCHS through art because art is one of my biggest passions,” she said. “I decided to do that through an art show.”
In addition to the 12 visual artists, including Saulat, whose work will be displayed at the Coffee House, Saulat booked the school’s Experimental Music Ensemble and South Asian Performing Arts group to play music and create mendhi hand art.
“Art has always been an outlet for me,” said Saulat, who is primarily a painter. “I can sit down in front of a canvas and let my feelings go forth. It’s one of the most therapeutic things I’ve found to really let my voice shine through, to process things and just be myself.”
Saulat focused the exhibition on artists of color. Learning about the art world and organizing the exhibition demonstrated to her the need for more representation; each of the classmates involved has responded positively to the experience.
“They’ve told me it’s really great to have a place to put their outlet,” she said. “They’ve already had their outlet through art, and now they want to share that story. It’s just really great to be able to help them share their voices. It’s been a hard thing with me. I want to talk about these things, but I don’t know where to put it.”
Local artist Lisa Lofgren volunteered to be Saulat’s mentor on the project.
“From day one, she was organized,” Lofgren said. “I felt like I’d be able to contribute, but I knew that she was already going to accomplish this task.”
Lofgren is an independent printmaker who has launched gallery exhibitions and public events. She also is the registrar and office coordinator at University Galleries. Lofgren said working with Saulat was easy. The many hats she wears were an asset, but Lofgren said she and other adults can learn from Saulat and her peers.
“They’re giving to us ways to cross bridges between age gaps, between sociological factors of race, gender, status, economics — these are attached to young folks, but these are folks that are coming up in the world in great ways.”
“Uplifting Voices” takes place from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, March 4 at the Coffee House in Uptown Normal. The event is free and open to the public.
