Voices in Motion: Youth Shaping Community Through Art on Delridge Pedestrian Bridge
In a world where young voices are often overlooked, DNDA and the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture have teamed up to create something wonderful. Since January, six West Seattle teen artists have gathered weekly at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center to design a public art project that will be installed on the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge.
Teen artists examining the West-facing side of the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge.
The project, Voices in Motion, celebrates the creativity and vision of young people. It empowers them to shape their community through public art and collaboration and serves as a testament to the power of young voices to inspire and transform. During their weekly gatherings, our teen artists collaborate with DNDA Art Programs Director Yeggy Michael to learn various artistic mediums and develop their creative skills in a collaborative and inspiring environment. Over the past few weeks, they have explored watercolor techniques, mosaic art, and concept development, using this time to develop their ideas and messages before transitioning into the formal planning and proposal phase of the project.
Teen artists focused on creating mosaic art pieces.
Their project site, the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge, is located near Youngstown at the intersection of Delridge Way SW and SW Oregon Street. From April 2024 to January 2025, the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge underwent seismic retrofits under the voter-approved Levy to Move Seattle. This effort saw the bridge strengthened with much-needed modifications improving its resilience and structural integrity and increasing public safety. The final piece will not only add color and creativity to the bridge, but it will also leave a lasting message created by the artistic talent and vision of our teen artists for generations to come.
Piece by piece, a snail takes shape.
We would like to extend a sincere appreciation and thanks to everyone at Haddad|Drugan for their warmth, welcome, and inspiring our teen artists during their studio visit. The six dedicated participants are now leading the project, which is currently in its mid-stage and on track for completion in May. We’re excited to see the final creation and the lasting impact it will have on the community.
Teen artists speaking with Laura Haddad of Haddad|Drugan studio.
-Written by DNDA’s Art Programs Specialist Intale Shuba