"Love is a Legacy" Toki Mural Update

This project was in collaboration with the The Bubbler at Madison Public Library. I appreciate your support!

was called back to collaborate with the students of Toki Middle School to redesign the sun in our 8th grade legacy mural. “It was brought to our attention that the dark red sun in the original design resembled the rising sun flag, imperial Japan’s military flag from 1870 through WWII, in color and design. The rising sun flag has extremely negative connotations to many Asian & Asian-American communities, especially those who were formerly under Japanese imperial rule. It has even been compared to the Confederate flag or swastika.” - Representative from Toki Middle School. A similar situation occurred a few years ago in Los Angeles, and even Sheperd Fairey got involved. (Read more here.)

The mural itself is a symbol of personal power and connection. Realizing it had the potential to bring discomfort went against it’s reason for being created. The rising sun as an image of renewal, should represent peace in all of us, so we shifted it to something with an uplifting feel. It was great to work with the students again, adding the final layer to the mural, evolving it.  Including more of the 8th grade’s favorite words: Respect, Equality and Kindness feels like the project is complete. I thank the students and staff for helping create a visual reminder of love, where all true power stems from, a legacy in their school with a message that carries across to all humanity.

”We wanted LOVE to be the central message, so we felt strongly that the mural should be revised. We didn’t want to start from scratch but wanted to alter the color and design of the sun to make it look less like the rising sun flag. Students who participated in the Power In Legacy art projects were invited to collaborate on solutions.” - Representative from Toki Middle School. After a morning meeting to discuss design options, the next few days after school, students and a member of the Madison Bubbler team helped me transform the image.

Much love, Toki!