Kylee Turner walked away with two awards from the Clackamas ESD Regional Art Competition for her piece “The 28th Amendment”. Twenty-seven schools and nearly two-hundred students participated. She won second place for all seniors, which is the biggest award anyone at OCHS has ever achieved, and the Art Speaks award.

At the competition, she delivered a speech talking about the importance of highlighting current issues. This was met with a standing ovation.

“Her work this year speaks to the societal issues of race and freedom, and she was asked to be the first ever student speaker at the ESD Awards Ceremony,” her art teacher Mr Liebrecht said. She is certainly turning heads with her awareness.

Turner’s piece was a collage of pictures featuring activists for LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, civil rights, and immigrant rights formatted to look like the American flag. In the center, there is an oil pastel of a woman crying.

“It represents the exhaustion of fighting for equality and justice for all people, regardless of skin color, gender, nationality, or sexual orientation,” Turner said in her speech. Her want to spread awareness on this is what won her the art speaks award.

Art has a meaning, and that is no different for Turner’s piece.

“My art was inspired by John Lewis.” she said. John Lewis was an African-American activist who led and helped with moments in the civil rights movement. He and many others continue to influence people everywhere.

Turner is representing OCHS with her work, her speech, and her awards. People from the outside and inside can see what the kids are thinking and how they express themselves and their beliefs.

“I am very proud of the way Kylee was able to reflect, show, and share her lived experience,” Principal Mr Timmons said. This showcase is very inspiring to many. She can and will continue to trailblaze for many other artists in the future.