"United in Age, Divided by Sacrifice": Fair Wins 2nd in the State

Please join us in congratulating CA sophomore Savannah "Milo" Fair. Milo not only was selected for the Fabric of Unionism exhibition, but they also won second in the state for their piece "United in Age, Divided by Sacrifice".

Open to the 177,000 members of PSEA and their students The Jennifer J. Dubois Fabric of Unionism Art Competition is hosted every two years and challenges students to increase awareness of the labor movement, its historical importance, and the need for it to grow in the future.

Work selected for the exhibition is exhibited throughout the year at various PSEA events across the state as well as at the PSEA headquarters. Milo's work will also be published in the monthly "Voice" magazine and will eventually be shared on the organization's website as well.

For receiving second place in the state, in addition to an impressive line on their resume, they will receive $500 in award money.

https://www.psea.org/for-members/member-resources2/awards-grants/fabric-of-unionism---meet-the-winners/ (not yet updated, but we are too excited to wait to share)

Below is an image of the drawing Milo submitted and the artist statement that accompanied the work.

Please congratulate Milo if you see them!

“United in Age, Divided by Sacrifice” ~ by Savannah “Milo” Fair

In “United in age, Divided by Sacrifice”, I am promoting awareness of the labor movement, its historical importance, and its necessity in the future, comparing the past with present. Two boys, both living in completely different worlds, on the left a coal miner. His face shows despair and exhaustion exploited by child labor. Unable to go to school, or play with his friends, a childhood robbed. On the right, ready for school, his face conveys the happiness and potential that comes with a childhood not spent exploited for profit. As a young American, I wanted to express the progress we have made but caution the dangers of returning to the past.

The learning objectives of this project provided me the opportunity to discover what life might have been like for me had I grown up in the late 1800’s. Now over 100 years later I learned how the labor movement has changed things for the better.

I believe this project helped me achieve an understanding of labor history in America and has made me grateful for the Unions who ensured I could have a childhood free of exploitation, providing me a chance to learn, to grow, to pursue happiness.