Art by first place winner Roxanne Wilkerson. photo courtesy of Emily Lupo
Thomas Jefferson High School celebrated Colorado’s Conflict Resolution Month with an art contest.
From the presidential candidates to the mask debate to climate change, it seems as if there are so many things to disagree about these days. Luckily for Colorodans, they live in a state that is actively trying to reverse the polarization of society by promoting conflict resolution, a concept that involves using various peaceful processes to facilitate ending conflict. Though Conflict Resolution Day is a nationwide event that takes place on October 15th, Colorado is the only state to devote the entire month of October to resolving conflict peacefully. In honor of Colorado’s Conflict Resolution Month, Thomas Jefferson High School introduced the Conflict Resolution Art Contest.
“Conflict is a part of everyday life. It happens no matter what. It happens in school. It happens outside of school. It is inevitable,” affirmed Emily Lupo, Thomas Jefferson High School’s Dean of Culture and the organizer of the contest. “Getting kids thinking about productive ways to go about resolving conflict in a truly successful way is going to be important.” With a master’s degree in conflict resolution, Lupo is an expert on the subject. She introduced the Conflict Resolution Art Contest to TJ as a way to encourage the student body to explore unique and creative ways to settle disputes peacefully. “I love conflict resolution because it applies to everyday life,” Lupo enthused. “You can take what you learn about conflict resolution and apply it to your life right away.”
Assisted by TJ art teachers Lisa Freedberg and Leonard Fox, Lupo sorted through dozens of inspiring and creative art pieces. Participants were judged on their effort, creativity, and effectiveness in portraying conflict resolution. “I hope [others students] see how amazing and creative their peers are. We had a lot of really good work submitted,” Lupo praised. Students took the conflict resolution prompt in a variety of directions, creating everything from sketches to collages to digital designs. One student, freshman Anna Blanchard, went so far out of the box as to bake a heart-shaped globe cake for her submission. The dessert perfectly fit the contest’s theme, as there is no better way to find common ground than through the power of baked goods!
After several days of deliberation, Lupo announced the contest’s first, second, and third place winners: junior Roxanne Wilkerson, sophomore Sherry Wang, and sophomore Roselyn Benally respectively. “I was very excited,” Wilkerson remembered. “I put a month’s work into that piece, so I was very grateful that it paid off.” Wilkerson’s first place submission features a diverse array of cultures and communities, including the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBTQ+ community, and the Latinx ethnic group. Various religious and political symbols coexist on her quilt-like piece—a necessary visual in a time when religious and political tensions seem to be at an all-time high. Most importantly, every panel is connected by pseudo stitches, promoting the interconnections between the different groups represented. “Unity is something that is really important when it comes to solving conflict,” Wilkerson asserted. The center of Wilkerson’s creation features a dove carrying an olive branch, a common symbol of peace. The centralization of the dove was a deliberate decision. “Peace is one of the most important aspects when it comes to resolving conflict resolution,” Wilkerson explained.
(from L to R): Roxanne Wilkerson, Sherry Wang, Roselyn Benally
As a part of her creative process, Wilkerson delved into the background of the groups she represented in her piece. “It really made me understand the perspectives of different cultures and social groups because I put in a lot of effort and research into doing intricate detailing for the specific cultures and groups,” Wilkerson recalled. “It broadened my perspective of what society is like and how we are divided and connected.” In a time when polarizing issues like police brutality, climate change, and gun control are creating a deeply divided country, Wilkerson’s piece is one step towards a more compassionate and enlightened future. “It’s really important for our generation to understand [conflict resolution] because we are the future, and we are going to have to deal with those problems and be a part of resolving that conflict.”
Wang’s second place piece, titled See the Change, is a black and white triptych that depicts a frustrated individual using the power of art to calm their muddled emotions. In the first panel, the subject’s head is a circle of scribbles, indicating distress. In the next panel, the character starts to draw. Finally, in the last panel, the subject finishes their drawing and breathes a sigh of relief; their head has returned to a normal shape and their anxiety has been released onto the paper. “I strongly believe that art is a peaceful way to reflect and express your general idea about this world,” Wang contended. Wang’s drawing is a reflection of her artistic process. When she first attempted to work on her submission, she struggled to find inspiration. She decided to draw an image representing her frustration, and as she sketched, her mind cleared. “When I drew this picture, I was kind of drawing myself,” Wang conveyed. Therapeutic activities like art are a great way for individuals to settle hostile emotions that could otherwise lead to conflict. “I think that if you can draw or write down what you are thinking about, it will make you feel much better,” Wang explained. “Also, that will make you understand your feelings and look at them more clearly.” While therapy and medication can be effective solutions to conflict-inducing inner turmoil, they are not always available to everyone. Art, on the other hand, is a budget-friendly tool that requires little more than paper and a pencil. Thus, art is both a way to promote conflict resolution and a form of resolving conflict in itself. “Art helps in raising awareness of different conflicts. The creative elements of art also help in exploring various means of conflict resolution and problem solving,” Wang stated. “I think it is important for high schoolers to understand conflict resolution because as we get older, life will throw all kinds of things at us, and it is very important to know how you should handle them so that you’re not always overwhelmed.”
The best part of the conflict resolution process is the end—a time when the bond between two at-odds individuals has been strengthened by their peaceful resolution of any and all disagreements. Benally sought to depict this part of conflict resolution in her contest submission. “My thought process behind my art piece was thinking about the emotions people feel after resolving a conflict,” Benally explained. “I thought about a mirror effect of feeling open and free because the weight of sorrow and guilt is gone.” In Benally’s piece, an open palm and a closed fist are intertwined by lilies. The open palm is symbolic for the freedom of resolving conflict, the closed fist is symbolic for staying strong through hard times, and the lilies are symbolic for the peace that links the painting’s subjects. “I learned that conflict resolution is complex,” Benally reflected. “There are many factors that lead to success, and many that can make the situation worse, but as a whole, there will always be a solution.” When situations are tense and emotions run high, it can be easy to lose control and lash out. Benally’s piece is a reminder that it is much more rewarding to take the high road. “We as a community should know how to make our world a better place by knowing the right tools to fix problems,” she affirmed.
Instead of paintbrushes, pens, or pencils, Blanchard used the magic of eggs, flour, and sugar to promote conflict resolution. She submitted a pink globe cake in the shape of a heart to depict her vision of a world where conflict resolution reigns. “A world where there is conflict resolution is a world that is united with love, so seeing the globe as a heart meant that the world would have love if people could resolve their conflicts without having to use violence or anger,” explained Blanchard. The project encouraged her to determine how she defined conflict resolution. “It really taught me what I feel about conflict resolution, that it all comes down to whatever a person chooses to do in a conflict,” Blanchard stated. “It taught me that it is really important to dig down deep into yourself and think before you act.” Blanchard usually only bakes at home, so she was surprised when she received an honorable mention in the competition. “I’m new to TJ this year, and I didn’t think I would do so well with it being my first art contest,” she related. “I was really happy.” Like her fellow competition winners, Blanchard sees conflict resolution as an important matter for high schoolers to understand. “We are the new generation; we’re the ones who are going to be changing the world from now until whenever, so I think it is important for teenagers to understand everything they can about making the world a better place.”
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to conflict resolution, and this fact is reflected in the unique messages of each of the Conflict Resolution Art Contest’s winning pieces. Some points of conflict call for self-soothing activities like drawing, while others require a better understanding of different culture and backgrounds. No matter the circumstances, however, it is undeniable that these amazing young artists and activists have the initiative and creativity it takes to change the way the world approaches conflict.
Art by second place winner Sherry Wang. photo courtesy of Emily Lupo
Art by third place winner Roselyn Benally. photo courtesy of Emily Lupo
Cake by honorable mention winner Anna Blanchard. photo courtesy of Emily Lupo
