Nine queer teen artists came together throughout May at the Port Orchard branch to craft a linoleum block print to be steamroll printed at the Wayzgoose Festival in Bremerton on Saturday, June 3.
Earlier this year, team members at Wayzgoose and Kitsap Pride reached out to the Library to support a youth-driven carving team leading up to the annual printmaking event.
With guidance and coordination from Port Orchard Teen Services Librarian Glenna Matteson, the youth artists met for four Create the Rainbow: Pride Art sessions in May to create a 3x3 ft linoleum carving.
Together, the teens honed in on themes of gathering, belonging and community with their artwork.
Once the final carving was completed, one teen described the carved image as capturing “the feeling of those nights with friends where you can truly be yourself.” Another teen shared, “We came because we were interested in the project, and we found a little community out of it.”
Library Director of Strategy and Communications Jeannie Allen, Graphic Designer Terra Tapia and Youth Selector Librarian Rosie Bromberg as well as Bainbridge Island Museum of Art Workshop & Summer Camp Facilitator Nic Schluter and teen artist Alyssa Allen helped support sessions as seasoned artist experts, sharing tools and advice throughout the process.
Glenna described the efforts culminating in a “uniquely powerful experience” during the festival, a printmaking event in Bremerton bringing local artists and communities together.
She said, “I feel like this program connected teens to each other, the Library and the larger Kitsap community. And they want to keep coming back – they have already asked me what we’re working on next Wednesday!”
The group's print will be displayed at Kitsap Pride on Saturday, July 22, 2-8 p.m. at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.
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