Celebrating Juneteenth Through Community Art
June 2, 2025
| By Lauren Journot, Impact Director |
Launching a Juneteenth community art project in La Crosse
On Juneteenth in 2023, we launched something special.
At La Crosse Area Community Foundation, we believe art has the power to bring people together, spark conversation, and reflect the vibrant diversity of our community. To honor Juneteenth and celebrate Black freedom and culture, we kicked off a community art project rooted in collaboration, creativity, and youth leadership.
But before we go any further, what exactly is Juneteenth?
Why Juneteenth matters: A day of freedom and reflection
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. It marks the date in 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, when the last group of enslaved people was finally informed of their freedom. On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that all enslaved people were now free. Since then, Juneteenth has become a powerful annual celebration of liberation, resilience, and joy in Black communities across the country.
Artist Ava Bowman, a rising creative voice
We began our project by commissioning an original design from a young artist whose talent continues to amaze us: Ava Bowman, a 14-year-old student at Central High School. Ava brought a bold and refreshing vision to the project — one rooted in freedom, resilience, and unity. Her style blends street art with personal expression, a nod to both graffiti-inspired forms and her lived experience. In addition to her vibrant style, the pieces include images of our region to celebrate the La Crosse community.
When we asked Ava about her artistic process, she told us she doesn’t have a favorite medium. “Whatever’s closest or speaks to me, that’s what I’ll use,” she said. Still, she’s worked quite a bit with papier mâché and pencil shading, and she brings a thoughtful, hands-on energy to everything she creates.
Her work has already been featured across the La Crosse community — including the La Crosse Public Library, Trinity Lutheran Church’s Clothes Closet, the YMCA, and The Pump House, where she had a reception earlier this month. It’s clear Ava is just getting started, and we feel incredibly lucky to have collaborated with her on this project.
How the community brought the artwork to life
From the start of the project through today, nearly 400 community members, ranging in age from just 6 months old to 95 years young, have helped bring Ava’s vision to life. The final piece includes three connected panels that flow together as one story, while also standing proudly on their own. Each section is filled with contributions from families, students, artists, and neighbors who brought their unique perspectives and creativity to the table.
Rather than being installed in just one place, the panels will “travel” throughout our community over the next year, making appearances at different locations so more people can experience them up close. It’s a fitting tribute to a project that has always been about connection, movement, and shared celebration.
Join us for Juneteenth in Riverside Park
We can’t wait to reveal more during this year’s Juneteenth events, and we hope you’ll join us in honoring the creativity, history, and heart that made this project possible.
This is more than art. It’s community in color.
This year’s Juneteenth celebration will take place on Saturday, June 21, at Riverside Park. Our local event is hosted by Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge (BLACK), Hope Restores, Black Student Leaders, and the Enduring Families Project. Come celebrate freedom, culture, and community with us.