SIDE X SIDE 2021 A SUCCESS!
Postcards designed by Side x Side kids
3 years ago with partners Elia Khalaf and EXILE Books, we came up with the idea for Side x Side, a pen pal/mail art project to connect kids from different neighborhoods in Miami. We knew it would be challenging to plan, coordinate, and bring to fruition during a pandemic, and for a year we had to put everything on hold…
Fortunately, this summer in June and July, we were able to bring Side x Side back to kids in Liberty City at the and Opa-Locka, at a time where art and writing and play is needed more than ever! Here’s what happened:
24 kids got to empower themselves and their communities through mail art, creative writing, and expression
7 workshops were held where we led them through writing prompts, stamps and postcard creation
24 kids became new friends, published writers, and had their art on display at EXILE Books in Little Haiti…plus a pizza party!
SO much thanks and gratitude to the team, and our partners at the OLCDC and Tacolcy, and Oolite Arts. Scroll down to see some of what went on summer of 2021, and stay tuned for a gallery show and zine of these young artists and writers’ work, which will very soon be made available to YOU!
Kids opening their pen pal letters!
Working hard on stamps made with linoleum and ink
Pen Pal writing
Side x Side pen pals meet IRL!
Side x Side art and letters on display at EXILE Books!
Side x Side artist sees their work on the walls
A close up of a letter
Happy summer for all! XOXO Side x Side