Yurok “Community Walls” mural unveiled at Redwood National Park Hostel

April 8, 2008

Join Klamath community members and students at the Redwood National Park Hostel on April 10, for the unveiling of a multimedia mural made by three youth artists through Hostelling International’s Community Walls project.

Elizabeth Chandler (age 16), Raven Eldredge (age 15), and Dillon Tundstall-Reynolds (age 15) are students from the Klamath River Early College of the Redwoods, a charter high school on the Yurok tribal reservation. Under the supervision of teacher Annelia Norris, the students created a three-paneled mural spanning nine feet and standing four feet tall that confronts pressing environmental and cultural issues facing Yurok tribal members and other Klamath area residents.

The mural, titled "Art for Social Change," is displayed at the Redwood Hostel for hostel guests and the community to enjoy not only for its artistic value, but as a portal into the local youth perspective. The mural remains on display for a period of 6-8 months, before touring to other American hostels, along with a background description of the political, environmental, and cultural issues prevalent within the mural’s images.

The Redwood Hostel is hosting a reception in conjunction with the unveiling, so come nibble on the light refreshments, hear some live acoustic music, and learn about the community issues that inspired these young artists.

The mural was created as part of Hostelling International’s Community Walls mural project, a fun and educational program that connects youth to their local communities through art. Groups of youth in grades 2-12 work collaboratively to explore, discover, and artistically express life within their community, in order to gain cultural understanding, a working concept of community, and a powerful voice for self-expression.