Untitled
Jessie Donovan
November – December 2020
This billboard offers a response to the forces, systems, and beliefs that ignore the humanity of marginalized groups, whether from lack of representation in media and culture, lack of education about our histories, or a lack of compassion for our communities. Although this message could find relevance in many cities, this billboard would resonate strongly with North St. Louisans, whose experiences have often been ignored and neglected. This collaboration seeks to remind passersby that neither their struggles nor joy can be made invisible because others choose not to “see” them.
About
Jessie Donovan is a St. Louis-based artist who works primarily in drawing, printmaking, and writing. Her research and art practice are focused on the history and creation of racial categories and the role of print in the spread of misinformation. In the past year, her work has concentrated on sharing the experiences of bi- and multi-racial individuals from the U.S. and around the world. Letters Home is Jessie’s most recent project, and is a series of copper etchings designed as postcards that feature written contributions from mixed-race individuals. Jessie is most passionate about creating a dialogue around these experiences and analyzing how these stories can tell us more about race and racial categorization in various societies.
