In the wellesley middle school auditorium, there is a banner for every graduating class. The banners are meant to highlight the important things that happened each year. I graduated middle school right at the beginning of COVID 19 and submitted my banner design. the banner depicted the fist of solidarity with multiple different skin tones on it, breaking through a COVID molecule. I designed this because I felt that racial diversity was somthing our town was lacking. It's worth noting that I designed this before the murder of George Floyd.
Meet Jack Ellis, parents Jen and Bob, grandmother, Lucy Townsend, guidance counselor, Alison Rogers, and WMS reading specialist and banner fabricator, Nancy Smith, who gathered this week to celebrate Jack and the selection of his artwork for the Wellesley Middle School Class of 2020’s 8th grade commemorative banner. Each year one student from the 8th grade class has their artwork selected for this honor, and Nancy Smith makes it into an artful representation (on felt) to be hung in the WMS auditorium as the class’s legacy piece. Jack worked very hard on the design of his artwork and wanted it to symbolize “breaking through” the Corona virus with the fist destroying it. Jack wanted it to represent racial equality, which is why the fist is comprised of five different skin tones, and without any one of the different tones the fist would be incomplete and unable to break through. Jack’s art is inspired and supported by his family, friends and the world around him, and he loves making art with his pencil, paper and Copic markers as well as the Ibis Paint X and Procreate Apps on his iPad. He loved studying Robotics with Mr. Kelly at WMS and is looking forward to learning more about it at Wellesley High School next year. Jack is in the Robotics Club, led by Rachel White, and he recently built a remote control dual gear vehicle out of legos. Jack also loves mountain biking and skiing. Thank you Jack for your using your art to make visible your beautiful social conscience and to leave a legacy of equality and unity to inspire us all. L-R Alison Rogers, Jen Ellis, Nancy Smith, Bob Ellis, Jack Ellis and Lucy Townsend.