FRANKLYWNOW - Changing a neighborhood through community art

ANCHORAGE — Two Anchorage artists want to make Mountain View a more peaceful neighborhood.

Aurora Sidney-Ando and Christina Determo started the Whale Song Peace Project. They’re creating a large sculpture for the neighborhood they hope will get people talking about ways to make positive changes.

“It’s a call to action and to teach people what individuals can do to create positive spaces and a better world,” Sidney-Ando said.

The artists also wanted kids’ input too. On Monday, they hosted an art-based community workshop at the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club.

“These are kids that are thinking a lot about these things because their neighborhood not only has challenges but really committed community members working to revitalize the area and it shows with the kids,” Demetro said.

Kids used paint to write their ideas on tapestries. They said it’s a fun neighborhood to live in, but it could be safer.

“I would change bullying, shootings,” said 16-year-old Rachel Biel. “More people are dying this year. I’d change a bunch of things about Mountain View, but still keep it the same because it’s Mountain View.”

Under the headline, “What would your perfect neighborhood be like?” one girl wrote, “no drama or shootings.”

Dearow Luak, 17, said she wants people to take a deeper look at the community.

“People portray it as a bad place but it’s really not that bad when you’re here,” she said.

Luak also agrees the neighborhood needs to find ways to make kids feel safe in their own backyard.

“I think people should speak up more against violence instead of just letting it happen,” Luak said.

For the kids, it’s their chance to have a hand in making Mountain View a thriving part of the Anchorage community.

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