Best of Miami Portfolios 2001 - Units.muohio.edu

about AIDS, they decided to implement their own version of Day Without Art within the
department. A year later they implemented it as a school-wide movement. The teachers and
students removed all of the artwork that normally hangs in the hallways. They also asked students
to dress completely in black on December first (National AIDS Awareness Day), and they passed
out red ribbons, the symbol of AIDS awareness, to all of the students in the school.
Through the years, the Day Without Art program has grown both internationally and at the
school. The art department has contacted AVOC (an AIDS volunteer organization) and FACE (For
AIDS Children Everywhere) and teamed up with them to help in the campaign to fight AIDS. The
organizations were invited by the art teachers to come to the school and pass out information and
answer student questions. “This year I think we had our largest number of faculty and students
participate,” commented the head of the art department. “I had to continually restock the ribbons
and pins as students joined the observance...but the thing that shows me that we’ve made people
aware is when I see a red ribbon on a purse or a book bag three months later. It’s not just about
December first; it’s about awareness.”
Even after having done so much, the art department still has more plans. This spring, the
Art 4 classes will create a second ceramic tile mosaic, similar to one on the wall across from the
media center. Last year’s mosaic theme was “We’ve Got the Whole World In Our Hands,” to
encourage students to realize their ability to impact the world. This year, the mosaic will be located
in the main lobby, and it will be called “Bridge of Dreams.” It is meant to encourage students to
follow and realize their dreams and personal potentials.
The art department is more than just paint and clay. It is an active and involved part of our
school and our community. Although, often times people do not realize the importance of the
department, it should nonetheless be admired and respected by everyone in the community, rather
than be criticized for being “inappropriate” because it displays student artwork in the hallway.
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