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"If this is an example of our future, then the world will be a better place."
(Catherine, Youth artist's mother)
"I liked the diversity of students related to the exhibit. It combined racial diversity with homophobia and showed students taking action - those two factors were important. My classes are pretty much solidly Latino and African American and most of them were able to find parts of it to relate to. It inspired some students to want to do a project like this about their own issues. " (Mara, GSA Advisor, Santa Cruz High School)
"High Contrast was much more widely seen by a diverse group of people than things we usually do. We reached people who were not in the GSA, people who did not even know that there was a GSA. It was people outside of our box. Finally, we were reaching the community at large." (Spencer Peterson, High Contrast artist, GSA president, Washington High School)
"The exhibit showed me that there are many people in this world that are in pain because they aren't respected for who they are. I especially liked the desk in the exhibit. It was the thing I could most relate to. Almost all my desks in all the classes I've had since middle school have had some kind of offensive writing on it. I can imagine someone sitting in that same desk everyday, staring at the offensive writing on the desk." (Student, Pinole Valley High School)
"I brought my class to High Contrast because I wanted them to see the art and be more conscious of LGBT youth and diversity in general. The students talked a lot about the exhibit and discrimination faced by LGBT youth and also racial minorities. It was just what we needed. Several students opened up about their own experiences with discrimination." (Spanish Teacher, Washington High School)
"It was so powerful and it really made people open their eyes to the world around them. Not only did we touch on issues like homosexuality, but also race issues and stereotypes. Basically, I just want to thank you for having an exhibit as breathtaking as High Contrast and hope that other schools will consider doing what we have done." (Amy, GSA member, Lincoln High School, San Jose)
"The art exhibit itself was actually pretty deep and a lot of the people on our campus are really artistic. Poetry can catch their eye more than just lecturing them. They could see and hear from the actual people - how they feel about things." (Angie, GSA President, Milpitas High School)
"High Contrast helped raise awareness that homophobia and other forms of oppression are problems at our school. It got people thinking about terminology and what they call people. People who use those words aren't trying to be mean, but they are and they don't even know it. The exhibit got that message out in a way that us [GSA] talking could never have done and to some people we could never have reached." (Beth Ann, Co-President, Palo Alto High School GSA)
"I never knew the things I said could affect people. When I walk out that building that day I felt sad. I didn't mean to hurt anybody's feelings, but I know now that I should be careful about what I say." (student, Lincoln High School, San Jose)
"For the GSA itself it was a really good thing to bring, it really brought together a lot of issues we're trying to deal with and opened up a lot of dialogue with the GSA, as a predominantly white group. It made me feel really good as an organizer to know that I brought that dialogue to the GSA." (Geoffrey Winder, GSA President, Davis High School, GSA Network board chair)
"The High Contrast exhibit (which premiered at a faculty meeting!) was a complement to our efforts [during tolerance week] and added a powerful piece to our message. The piece, placed in the library, was accessible to a very wide variety of students as well as staff and parents. Together, we helped push the tone and culture of this campus, exploring deeper issues of difference, tolerance and equity. I highly recommend the piece for any secondary school in this nation." (Matt, Assistant Principal, Mountain View High School)
"Working on High Contrast gave our GSA a chance as a club to interact with our new principal. It made him see what people are willing to accept at this school and that he needs to be willing to encourage this kind of stuff." (Carrie, GSA co-president, Palo Alto High School)
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© GSA Network/Tides Center & LYRIC, 1998-2002 |
