June: Athena Clark
Name: Athena Clark
Grade: 9
Location: Solvay, NY
Hey, I'm Athena! My favorite object to paint is black girls. I love painting black girls because I feel in this society, the definition of beautiful is white, blonde, and blue eyes. I like to remind girls/women that they are beautiful no matter what skin they have. I paint not only for myself, but also for my people. I want to change the world. With this award, I plan to create more Black Lives Matter paintings, all of which I will be raffling and donating the proceeds, every penny, to Black Girls code and social justice organizations. I'm so excited!
What does being a Black girl who paints mean to you?
Being a black girl who paints means I can inspire others and make a difference in this harsh reality we live in. If I can make one painting or drawing that makes one of my fellow black women feel like she is being heard or understands, I feel like I've done a good job. Being a black girl who paints doesn't just mean inspiring others, it also means helping others that are not black see who we really are.