Three Questions for Young Artists About their Voting Posters

Oakland Charter School students have hella talent and these posters, created by Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) visual arts students for a FIA voting poster contest, are so good. We wanted to hear from the students about their inspiration, the message they are trying to convey, and why they think it’s important for young people to get involved in elections.

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1st Place
Nicole Mendoza, 11th Grade
“Vote (Mask Up)”
Digital Drawing

1. How did voting inspire your design?
   I believe voting is a privilege that people aren’t using or taking as seriously as they should. As someone who is still too young to vote, it is imperative that people begin to take responsibility and speak for themselves and those who can’t.
2. What is a message that you are conveying through this design?
   In my design, I am trying to convey several things. The person in my design has gentle but authoritative and accusatory eyes. I want this to catch the attention of the viewer. Looking closer into the meaning behind my design, I want people to pay attention to the mask covering, specifically her mouth. This implies something covering her mouth, her voice, something that should never happen. This is also a relevant symbol because of the current pandemic crisis. By not voting, you are willingly allowing your voice that, collectively with others, decides the future. It is selfish to pass this opportunity. People who can vote need to take action and speak for others, if not themselves.
3. Why do you think it’s important young people talk about voting and get involved in elections?
   I think it’s important for young people to be involved in election-related topics because we can speak on issues we’ve been brought up with, that are more prevalent in today’s world. It brings a new viewpoint and focuses on the importance of things that may not have been considered or taken seriously before. It is our future, too, that is being decided. Young people should be in the loop of things that might affect us, growing into the people who will one day take the same roles as today’s adults.

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2nd Place
Jessica Wong, 11th Grade
“Your Vote is Your Voice”
Digital Collage

1. How did voting inspire your design?
   The many injustices and political uprisings that have been extremely prevalent recently inspired the message of my design. Voting is a way to represent ourselves in changing these issues and making a larger difference. Making political art is a step in that direction.
2. What is a message that you are conveying through this design?
   Use your voice, use your vote. My goal was to encourage those who can vote to amplify the voices of those who can’t. Make a change, protect the communities and rights we have that are being harmed.
3. Why do you think it’s important young people talk about voting and get involved in elections?
   As a young person who isn’t old enough to participate in elections, I can only urge those who can do so to vote, while educating myself and others. There is a lot of change that needs to be made and the actions that this generation makes will affect our future. Voicing our urgency and hope to make a difference is important in spreading the word to vote.

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3rd Place
Vincent Truong, 12th Grade
“Vote-Don’t Stay Silent”
Digital Drawing

1. How did voting inspire your design?
   I am a person who isn’t old enough to vote. It pained me to see adults around me who were choosing not to vote for change among a crisis like this year’s election. I feel angry watching privileged people shun the act of voting despite so many underprivileged minorities struggling to even get their votes counted. The idea of a literal call to action to vote is what inspired me in my design.
2. What is a message that you are conveying through this design?
   I hope to convey urgency and hope. Modeling my design after Obama’s HOPE color palette, I wanted to convey that if there is to be any hope for bettering our nation, one of the first steps to take is to vote.
3. Why do you think it’s important young people talk about voting and get involved in elections?
   I feel it’s important that young people talk about voting and involve themselves in the election because as young people, we are the future generation. We will be among the next generations who can directly influence the course of our country, domestically and internationally. This kind of weight is the reason why I feel young people need to talk about voting, so that when we are able to vote, we are educated on how the changes in the country affect us directly.