Have you seen the new ‘Unity’ mural on campus? Get to know the artist behind it—Teddy “Stat” Phillips—at a virtual talk that highlights his background and inspirations.
More Information:
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Join Meeting (Zoom)
Dial-in: +1 253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 848 0245 2150
Today! Join a virtual talk with renowned artist Teddy “Stat” Phillips and a reveal of the mural he created for the campus, titled ‘Unity’. The impressive work was developed in partnership with BC’s Addressing Anti-Blackness Taskforce (AABT) and Urban ArtWorks. ‘Unity’ is a vision of Black Success: two students ascend the metaphorical 10 steps – put in place by the AABT – guiding them towards a bright colorful future. Hope to see you there!
About the Artwork
Unity by Stat the Artist
The “Stat” in Teddy “Stat” Phillips’ moniker isn’t because he’s fast. It’s short for “Statcher,” his activist grandfather’s name, which the Seattle artist uses in homage. “My grandfather said you can stand by and be silent, or you can try to make a change for not only for yourself, but for your children,” says Phillips. “If you love your kids — I don’t have any, but I love them already — you want to do what’s best for them. You want to try to make their world a little easier for them to live in.”
This ethos made Stat a perfect match to collaborate with Urban ArtWorks and the Bellevue College Addressing Anti-Blackness Taskforce (AABT). In a series of 3 workshops, the AABT, Urban ArtWorks facilitators, and Stat conceived a vision of Black Success: two students ascend the metaphorical 10 steps put in place by the AABT, guiding them towards a bright colorful future. Stat’s personal vision for his art, amplifying the voices of those historically marginalized and impacted by systemic racism, married well with AABT’s goals of centering the support of Black students in their demands to Bellevue College. The process was an excellent example of uplifting Black Voices by hiring a Black artist, taking feedback from Black students, and collectively emphasizing the importance of shining a spotlight on students who are traditionally underrepresented. The image was installed on campus using a Paste Up method- inspired by other artivists like Chip Thomas, Erin Shigaki, and JR.
In 2020, a group of Bellevue College employees and students formed the AABT. The AABT believes that everyone benefits from a more equitable society free of anti-Blackness as well as systemic racism. We recognize that Black communities are disproportionately harmed by anti-Blackness and other forms of racism and it is our human responsibility to prioritize justice in our efforts to build and support anti-racist policies and practices. Anti-Blackness is grounded in historic and ongoing systems; acting to address this requires transformative changes in Bellevue College’s policies, procedures and operational practices.
There must be an equity approach for identifying anti-Blackness and removing systemic barriers affecting Blacks and people of African descent, which will ultimately benefit other historically marginalized groups, communities, and People of Color.
In order to make tangible action on campus, the AABT is basing action around the ten-step Addressing Anti-Blackness on Campus model designed by Dr. Regina Stanbeck Stroud, Dr. Luke Wood, and Dr. Frank Harris III. The systemic and cultural change that this model advocates involves a comprehensive audit of the organizational structure of the Institution, including the mechanisms for decision-making, space allocation, and resource allocation.
- Acknowledge the Past and Revisit the History of Anti-Blackness
- Lift Black Voices
- Address Anti-Blackness in the Campus Culture
- Critically Examine Student Conduct & Discipline Data
- Address Anti-Blackness in Campus and School Policing
- Devise a Comprehensive Strategy for Addressing Anti-Blackness
- Establish a Black Resource Center
- Disaggregate Data to Reveal Patterns of Racial Inequity
- Engage in Outreach to Black Campus Community Members when Racist Incidents Occur
- Build a Culture of Commitment to Eliminating Anti-Blackness
For more detailed information about specific work the AABT is engaging in, please contact addressingantiblacknesstaskforce@bellevuecollege.edu.
Last Updated February 22, 2022