Created a billboard with a group of the University of Idaho students and held non-partisan events on the University of Idaho campus to increase civic engagement. Planned and created the events with the help of co-leader Ethan Coy. Featured as the showcased billboard on election day 2018 on the For Freedoms Instagram and installed in Lewiston, ID.
Worked with University of Idaho Student Ethan Coy to create a timeline and structured plan for the For Freedoms event. Coordinated with the Visual Arts Community (VAC) to plan times to bring students together to work on planning the civic events and billboard.
Planned and coordinated a civic event hosted by ourselves and VAC. Students from all over campus came and participated in the event.
Created a structured timeline for when the events would happen and worked with faculty to reserve spaces and register the event.
Reached out to over 200 student clubs and organizations on campus to create a buzz about the event.
Photo by Alex Brizee | Process sketches and timeline
Photo by Alex Brizee | Going over final ideas with Art + Design faculty
Brainstormed billboard ideas going through tens of ideas to create one finalized idea to encourage Idaho voters to go out and vote.
After narrowing down ideas we received feedback by Art + Design faculty.
Designers – Alex Brizee, Ethan Coy, Britani Phelps, Chelsey Flores, Nicole Mashburn and Kiel Kleeburg
Planned tabling event with Ethan Coy with the assistance of Britani Phelps & Chelsey Flores.
Created miniature versions of the For Freedoms yard signs that allowed students to express what they had – Freedom For, Freedom of, Freedom From and Freedom To.
Used materials to have an interactive tabling experience where we could discuss civic engagement with students.
Photo by Alex Brizee | Materials and promotional flyers for tabling event
Photo by Alex Brizee | Tabling event outside of Idaho Commons.
Tabled outside of the Idaho Commons allowing students to fill out their own sign.
We’re able to facilitate a conversation about civic engagement with students and encourage younger voters to go out and vote this midterm election.
Students taped there responses to the table and then the responses were put up at the kickstart event on Oct. 5.
Finalized billboard and sent to Roger Rowley, the director of the Prichard Art Gallery – to be sent to production and be installed in Lewiston, ID.
Photo by Alex Brizee | Chelsey Flores goes over final design for billboard
Photo by Alex Brizee | Students answer think-tank questions
The kickstart event was hosted in the Art & Design building across the street from the Idaho Commons. We created a welcoming atmosphere with music and food so students of any discipline could feel welcomed to participate in the event.
A creative think-tank challenged participants to answer questions like – Are you registered to vote? If not, why? Do you believe politicians are honest? Are political differences a deal breaker when it comes to family and friends?
Close to 200 yard signs were filled out by students and members of the community.
A ballon popping wall was created to allow students to pop a ballon to destress about politics.
The billboard was installed in Lewiston, ID.
Photo by Chelsey Flores | Installed billboard in Lewiston, ID
Photo by Chelsey Flores |For Freedom signs on the Admin Lawn
Close to 200 yard signs were spread across the Admin Lawn. These signs that were filled out at the kickstart event allowed all different kinds of voices and opinions to be reflected.
So why does it all matter?
According to an article written by Moscow-Pullman Daily News, voter turnout was 71.3 percent this year at the Midterm elections. This is the turnout rate of a presidential election – with 16,174 of Latah County’s 22,699 registered voters who voted.
Mentions
“Fridays are for freedom,” The Argonaut, Oct. 4 2018
“Variety of voices showcased through political art,” The Argonaut, Oct. 7, 2018
“Feature Photo: Signs of freedom,” Moscow Pullman Daily News, Oct. 17, 2018
“A mixture of art and politics,” The Lewiston Tribune, Oct. 25, 2018
“UI students hope to boost civic engagement with billboard in Lewiston,” Post Register, Oct. 26, 2018