“Don’t Spread Hate” – Ashley Oden interviewed by Madi Leal
Created in response to the events of 2020, Ashley’s protest poster highlights racial inequalities in our country. She started to question her belonging in this world and in certain spaces if nothing could protect her from the way in which certain people viewed the color of my skin. Her faith in
institutions is shaken when our justice system, time and time again, fails to convict these murderers. Instances like these highlight how America devalues Black life and the lives of allies fighting for racial equality. Madi Leal
Madi Leal Wow. This poster is both eye-captivating and heart-wrenching. What inspired you to create this piece?
Ashley Oden I had a couple of influences for this piece but, one was this Police and Power communications course I’m enrolled in this semester that was created in light of the events of 2020. In the course, I’ve come to understand that police are pawns of the justice system created to control physical borders measured by proximity to whiteness. The texts we engage with help contextualize how racism and power are so ingrained in our society that the literal architecture of cities was developed in order to emphasize borders and keep people out. With this in mind, I wanted to create a piece that touched on race and division within the country, which is often spread through hate.
ML I love Professor Balaji! Being enrolled in his Police and Power class has opened my eyes to the idea that corruption exists within the criminal justice system, just as you said. When you reference “hate” what exactly do you mean?
AO The words “Don’t spread hate” were included because people can be so mean and selfish when it comes to their desire to hold and maintain power. I’ve come to understand that you will never truly understand someone else’s perspective on life unless you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.
And since that’s not possible, you have to realize that everyone has such different lived experiences and environments that have shaped them into who they are and what they believe. The best way to engage with people that see the world differently is from a place of empathy, openness, and willingness to listen. I’m hopeful that we can learn to understand one another across race and class lines and stop history from repeating itself in a vicious cycle of negligence.
ML I couldn’t agree more that empathy is vital when it comes to understanding people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Empathy allows people’s voices to be heard. I like your inclusion of the megaphone, what purpose does it hold for you in this animation?
AO I think the megaphone was a metaphor for speaking up and giving people a voice. I intentionally put the megaphone above everything else because I was trying to arm the minority whose voice is often suppressed with power. The cube is then a box of hatred, anxiety and prejudice and the megaphone is so loud and powerful that it’s pushing all of the hate out of the piece and off the page.
ML Last but not least, I must note the pictures in your cube are extremely powerful. To me, these images signify a call-to-action and remind me of the recent protests that followed the death of George Floyd. Would you say the BLM movement has ignited a flame within you to create protest art?
AO Yes, for sure. I remember my family’s dinner conversation during quarantine being centered around the news and the global social justice issues. I came to understand the amount of privilege they allowed me to have as I grew up, specifically in regard to my race. They asked me questions like when was the first time you were conscious of your race? Or do you know why you transferred schools in kindergarten or why when we moved into this neighborhood fifteen
years ago, we had a barbeque and invited all the neighbors? And of course I didn’t know the answer to any of their questions. But, I learned that I transferred schools when I was five because some kid on the playground wouldn’t play with me because my skin color resembled dirt. They invited the entire neighborhood over, so they knew our faces in case they saw my dad running at night and were frightened or saw me one day and wanted to call the cops on a little girl that looked out of place. Other dinner conversations revolved around my frustrations that my parents weren’t more outraged at how the news was spinning narratives around the protests. In the web of lives spun by some news outlets protesters were looters, and unarmed victims were thugs and a danger to society. So naturally, I was angry that my parents weren’t doing more and being active players in this fight. But, they quickly explained that this was America. The America they have always known and grew to accept because it was a better experience than existing in a constant state of rage. And then recently, actually a few months ago, my mother made a speech for an award she received for helping to disrupt and close the racial wealth gap. In her speech,
she talked about how those dinner conversations sparked her hope for my generation, leading her to believe we will make the necessary changes. She knows that my generation understands that the blueprint passed down to us is broken, and we’re going to have to disrupt and interrupt the
way we as a society have always functioned in order to trigger real change. We would rather blow-up entire institutions than try to reform a system that was built to uphold the oppression of Brown and Black communities. I know that was a lot, but these experiences have sparked a kind of passion in me to bring awareness to social justice issues. And protest art is definitely a powerful way I can start to address some of these inequities that are ingrained into our society.
ML Thank you for being vulnerable and open with me Ashley. Your poster resonated with me and your poster was extremely moving. Great job!
“Bee” Kind to your Mind – Madi Leal Interviewed by Ashley Oden
Created during the heat of finals week, Madi’s poster animation highlights the importance of prioritizing one’s mental health and overall well-being. In times of distress, she highlights just how important it is to take care of yourself. She even adds a personal story that ignited her passion for mental health awareness. This poster animation is a reminder to focus on the little things that bring happiness, good health, and joy into our lives. Ashley Oden
Ashley Oden I love your piece and we’ve talked a little bit before about your relationship to mental health, but tell me what inspired you to create this piece?
Madi Leal Like you said, my inspiration for this piece is my passion for mental health awareness. In May of 2013, my older sister Bailey, at the age of 17, committed suicide. Bailey was my best friend. She was my role model and my soulmate. Her death inspired me to shed light, open dialogue, and destigmatize conversations surrounding mental health. In 2013, my family and I created a non-profit organization in Bailey’s honor: Yoga4B. Our mission is to shed light on mental health through the practice of yoga and meditation. I would say personal life experiences have truly opened my eyes to the importance of taking care of one’s mind in every stage of life. And art is a powerful tool through which we are able to bring awareness to mental health.
AO Thank you for being so open and sharing that Madi. I’m curious was Bailey incorporated into the piece or someone you thought about while creating it?
ML Yes actually, the bee in my animation is in honor of Bailey who I used to refer to as “bee.” Any time I see a bee, I automatically think of my sister. Bailey was the most loving, compassionate, loyal, and empathetic human. She seemed so carefree and happy as a person. Always marching to the beat of her own drum. She did what she wanted when she wanted and let absolutely nothing stand in her way. She was invincible – on the soccer field, in school, in literally every aspect of her life. Bailey taught me that depression has no face, & the answer is not a “one size fits all.” Depression does not discriminate. Depression is not always someone alone, isolated, crying by themselves in an empty room. Bailey “seemed” to have everything going for her. She was popular. She was an extremely talented soccer player. She played fiercely. She loved deeply. Bailey masked her depression on the soccer field with her talent. She masked her depression around friends with a smile. She loved socializing and was often deemed the “life of the party,” but her free-spirit and liveliness was only a face she put on to mask the darkness brewing inside. I may never know the depths of my sister’s pain, or the demons she faced. But, what I do know is that I have been given an opportunity to heal and bring awareness, through my voice and through art, to a topic that is often taboo and silenced. Bee reminds me that I don’t have to wear a cape to be a hero. I can be a hero with a smile, by holding the door, by lending my hand and my heart to someone in need.
AO I completely agree. I think there is such an unnecessary stigma surrounding mental health and depression and not enough awareness around the nuances of mental health. The main message in your poster is “Bee Kind to your mind.” How do you practice this on a daily basis?
ML Yoga has played a huge role in my life. My grandmother was a yoga teacher, my mom is a yoga teacher, and my older sister Marisa just became a certified yoga teacher. A family full of yogis! So, for me, yoga has for sure helped me find a sense of peace in the chaos. The practice of yoga has helped me bring myself back to the present moment in times of distress. As a person, I would also say I am very in-touch with my emotions. On the days I don’t feel well, I always go the extra mile to practice self-care. This could be something as simple as going outside for a walk, eating nutritious foods, or journaling.
AO I think more people need to learn how to lean into their emotions if you ask me and I definitely got my self care routine down during quarantine. So now that I understand the motivation behind your message “bee kind,” do you have any future mindfulness messages that you intend to work with?
ML Actually, I do. One self-realization that has positively changed my life comes from the message behind the phrase “Be Happy.” Let me explain. And I know what you are thinking… “be happy” is one of the most cliché phrases. But to me, this phrase holds a different meaning to me. When I speak of happiness, I don’t mean a rush of positive emotion. Instead, I choose to view happiness as the product of an intentional, mindful, daily practice. And the first step to achieving happiness is choosing to commit to it. The death of my sister served as a mirror that made me face my one life and mortality. Let’s face it, we are all going to die some day. So, why not focus our time and energy on what is important to us? Like the things that bring meaning, purpose, and happiness into our lives. The concept of death has ignited a flame within me to live my life to the fullest. It has inspired me to surround myself with the people and things that make me genuinely happy. And it has allowed me to express gratitude for the little things that bring me joy. So, in the future I hope to express the depth and meaning of this phrase through art.