"We Can't Afford" by Jennifer Solano
“11x17”
Designed by Jennifer Solano for the 2023 Artwork for Equity Campaign.
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“I got inspired by Howard Zinn’s book You Can’t Be Neutral on A Moving Train and the song “Deer Dance” by System of A Down. Both sources highlight how it is impossible to stay neutral in a situation headed in a disastrous direction. By remaining neutral, one is complicit in the suffering of others. In graffiti, I drew the lyrics We Can’t Afford [2] Be Neutral on a train. Graffiti is an art form commonly disregarded and criminalized. People are not protected, but property is. Only when one paints on a protected surface do people turn to look and read what it says.”
“11x17”
Designed by Jennifer Solano for the 2023 Artwork for Equity Campaign.
_
“I got inspired by Howard Zinn’s book You Can’t Be Neutral on A Moving Train and the song “Deer Dance” by System of A Down. Both sources highlight how it is impossible to stay neutral in a situation headed in a disastrous direction. By remaining neutral, one is complicit in the suffering of others. In graffiti, I drew the lyrics We Can’t Afford [2] Be Neutral on a train. Graffiti is an art form commonly disregarded and criminalized. People are not protected, but property is. Only when one paints on a protected surface do people turn to look and read what it says.”
“11x17”
Designed by Jennifer Solano for the 2023 Artwork for Equity Campaign.
_
“I got inspired by Howard Zinn’s book You Can’t Be Neutral on A Moving Train and the song “Deer Dance” by System of A Down. Both sources highlight how it is impossible to stay neutral in a situation headed in a disastrous direction. By remaining neutral, one is complicit in the suffering of others. In graffiti, I drew the lyrics We Can’t Afford [2] Be Neutral on a train. Graffiti is an art form commonly disregarded and criminalized. People are not protected, but property is. Only when one paints on a protected surface do people turn to look and read what it says.”
Jennifer Solano is a visual artist on a mission to bring arts to the forefront of education in hopes of creating a curriculum that reflects the needs and interests of students. While receiving her BA in Literature at the University of California Santa Cruz, she volunteered at a continuation high school in which she observed how students' lives are improved through art and curriculum that reflects their environment. The students were tasked with making skateboards and painting the deck about a social or cultural topic important to their community. Jennifer wants to become a Literature teacher in her community to inspire the younger generations to use their voices for change..
