Monday, the nation pauses to remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
While schools across North Texas are closed for the observance, many students in Arlington Independent School District worked on art projects for weeks to express their interpretation of Dr. King’s dream and their hopes for the future.
"Connect with Dr. King's vision and from that vision turn it into a visual piece," Linh Nguyen, Arlington ISD Visual Arts Coordinator said. "It's about them. It's about the kids. It's about Dr. King."
More than 500 students in every junior high and high school in the district were tasked with capturing the theme of “advancing the dream.”
“They are feeling the angst that's happening now and you can really see that," Nguyen said. “With the times now, you can see the kids really start to understand what's happening in the world and to see them depict that in their artwork was incredible.”
The artwork of Martin High School freshman Kaylee Kim was chosen the best in the district.
"There is a black man and a white man grabbing a chain," she said as she explained her work. “The chain means the restriction of freedom and injustice in the world and together, united they are breaking the chain."
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Kim said she was even surprised at the realism she was able to capture.
"My emotions are just shown on the paper and even if I don't really get it quite right," she added.
At the center of her project are ideas of unity and hope.
"Just like hope for the future," Kim said. “All my friends who are of different colors. They mean a lot to me."
"We hope for a better future — for our kids, for our students. I think it gives them a sense of hope," Nguyen added.
