Apart of the Screen It! program, every year, Mexic-Arte host’s a Free annual Nuestra Lucha/Our Struggle summer camp. Students learn relief printing and screen printing and create a mixed-media personal statement posters that reflect on a social justice issue of their choice. Students are able to learn how to express, and interpret a stance on their chosen issue using visual language informed through various printmaking methods taught in this two week camp. Partnering with the Austin Public Library, the posters created during the camp are exhibited at the Central Library in the heart of Austin to further amplify the reach of each youth’s message. This program was sponsored by the CYD program of Austin Public Health.
2022
The third Nuestra Lucha social justice summer camp occurred at Atkins High school. Attendees learned screen-printing basics as the medium to print their compositions which dealt with a social issue to raise awareness. These personal statement posters are exhibited in the “Teen Section” at the Central Austin Public Library for a whole year alongside reproduction prints from the Mexic-Arte Museum’s permanent collection. In September, the library held a reception with a DJ, snacks, and art activity lead by Jose Martinez for the students and their families.
2021
The second Nuestra Lucha social justice summer camp exhibited the youth’s statement posters at the Austin Central Library’s Teen Section. This is the first partnership with Mexic-Arte Museum’s education outreach programming and the Austin Public Library to showcase the rarely-seen gems that youth created with the help of our talented Teaching Artists. This exhibit, in particular, will show each youth piece alongside a social justice artwork from Mexic-Arte Museum’s permanent collection starting September 9th 2021, and exhibiting for an entire year!
2019
The first Nuestra Lucha social justice summer camp was held at the South East Branch of Austin Public Library. Their topics were original ideas assisted by Mexic Arte’s teaching staff under the prompt to create a personal statement poster they would use if they could only go to one march in their entire lives. They were taught relief printing, lino cutting, and screen printing and were encouraged to use one of each element in their designs.