“Ruby Bridges: How Does Her Story Affect Your Story?” is the topic students are being asked to consider in their 50-word statement. Winners will also win tickets to the DAI’s current exhibition: “American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell.”
Interested students are asked to explain why Rockwell’s 1964 civil rights painting “The Problem We All Live With,” is still relevant. With their parent’s permission, students may go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/rockwellcontest to participate.
The famous painting, which hung at the White House just before coming to Dayton, depicts 6-year-old Ruby Bridges’ history-changing walk to the William Franz Public School in New Orleans, as part of court-ordered integration in 1960. Contest submissions will be accepted through Jan. 9, and will be judged in two categories, grades K-6 and 7-12.
Beginning this week, one weekly winner in each category will be selected to receive a family four-pack of tickets to the Rockwell show. On Jan. 16, one student will be randomly drawn from all of the weekly winners to receive four tickets to hear Bridges speak.
A talk on the Ruby Bridges painting, as well as others that deal with the subject of civil rights, is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the DAI.
Cincinnati Art Museum’s Kirstie Craven will discuss Rockwell’s civil rights paintings and the historic events which inspired them. The talk is free to members, $8 for nonmembers. Admission to the exhibit is not included.
For more information about the writing contest, please contact Mary Beth Whitley, at (937)223-5277, ext. 335, or mwhitley @daytonart.org.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or MMoss @DaytonDailyNews.com.
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