ROCKFEST 2022, 25TH ANNIVERSARY, COSTA RICA

A celebration of Costa Rican culture and a tribute to the LGBTQ community, Jenny Q lead the design for the 25th Anniversary of Rockfest 2022. A collaboration with her wife, Sam Kirk that will come to life in a 4-story mural, merchandise catalog, and in the marketing materials for the event.

The concept celebrates Costa Rica’s history, culture, and the LGBTQ community. The top portion includes a carreta wheel over an illustration of the city of San Jose and is accented by the beautiful flora of Costa Rica in traditional flower patterns with the leaves of the rainforest framing the artwork. The figures include one CIS gendered woman and another that non-binary figure. This is the artists way of highlighting the recent legalization of LGBTQ marriage and a future hope for the celebration of all people. Jenny felt it was important for one of the figures to also hold up their hand with a symbol that has a double meaning - the ASL sign for “love”, and a gesture often seen by rockers at concerts. This gesture is meant to represent a call to action for unity and love.

As a multifacted, multicultural married couple, Jenny and Sam represent several communities that are starting to gain more visibility and wanted to develop a piece that shows how art can be used to celebrate us all. 

THIS IS BLACK HISTORY

Illustrator Jenny Q partnered with the team at BRONDIHOUSE to develop a set of coloring pages for an educational journey that will take students on a deeper adventure into Black History. BRONDIHOUSE has developed educational programs to teach Black History throughout the year, and this month, they will provide lessons that go beyond what is typically shared during the month of February, to 5000+ students in the Chicagoland area. Jenny Q collaborated with ShaRhonda Knott Dawson to develop illustrations that were specific to the BRONDIHOUSE curriculum, which focuses on West African history and the diaspora.

ILLUSTRATOR, JENNY Q
"In all my years of schooling I wish I had a program like this. The opportunity to bring color to what has always seemed black and white is immeasurable. Working on this project with Brondihouse has brought fulfillment and confirmation to my inner child that knew our history didn’t start with slavery. I am honored to have been asked to illustrate the prosperity, wealth of knowledge and marvels African… Black history… has bestowed upon this world."

- Jenny Q

ABOUT BRONDIHOUSE
BRONDIHOUSE is a non-profit, specializing in providing impactful and meaningful opportunities for students, educators, and organizations to learn about foundational Black History. Their lessons explore centuries of culture, economy, science, and influence specifically rooted in West Africa–the region from which the vast majority of African Americans originate. During these engagements, BRONDIHOUSE will challenge and expand on what is traditionally taught, that Black history started in slavery, and instead, provide a more comprehensive and inclusive perception of Black history and its legacy of greatness.

Learn more about BRONDIHOUSE at https://www.brondihouse.org/