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Madison Arts to induct latest Youth Poet Laureate, showcase new art in Madison Municipal Building

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Madison Youth Poet Laureate Justin Festge Russell
Image credit: UW-Madison
Justin Festge Russell is Madison's third Youth Poet Laureate

The Madison Arts Commission is inviting the public to attend the opening reception for the 2024 Madison Municipal Building Art Exhibition, titled Everything but the Dinosaur: Art With & About Youth, and meet the City’s newest Youth Poet Laureate on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.

The exhibition will include work by Jennika Bastian, Angela Johnson, Meghan Johnson, Poornima Moorthy, Roberto Torres Mata, and Sonia Valle.

The reception will be held from 4:30pm to 6:30pm in Room 206 on the second floor of the Madison Municipal Building at 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. An elevator is available next to the staircase on the Doty Street end of the building.

The reception will also include the induction of the newest Madison Youth Poet Laureate, Justin Festge Russell. Justin is the third Youth Poet Laureate for the City of Madison, following 2022-2023 Madison Youth Poet Laureate Madeleine Bohn and 2023-2024 Madison Youth Poet Laureate Maliha Nu’Man.

Being from Madison, I want to put on for my city and be a role model to the youth. My goal is to become an educator and having this title would put me in the face of the public where I’m able to fulfill my vision. I desire to share the stories of the people and speak for those who are afraid. I truly believe in the power of the youth and must contribute to it as best as I can. For we are the future.

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Madison Youth Poet Laureate Justin Festge Russell

The Madison Youth Poet Laureate serves a one-year term and will give three public readings alongside the current Madison Poet Laureate during that time.

I’m grateful for the chance to work with and learn from Justin. His poetry has real heart; it endeavors towards knowing at great personal risk. I don’t know of qualities more necessary for the next generation of poets and artists.

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Madison Poet Laureate Steven Espada Dawson

Justin is a recent graduate of Madison East High School and has just started his freshman year in the First Wave program at UW-Madison.

“Since its origin, First Wave, a full-tuition Hip-Hop scholarship at UW-Madison, has been one of the most exciting things this city has to offer and we are so lucky to have Justin, 17th cohort, as this year’s Youth Poet Laureate,” Madison Arts Commission Chair Nick Pjevach said.

The Youth Poet Laureate will have their poems published in the National Youth Poet Laureate annual anthology and have the opportunity to apply for the National Youth Poet Laureate role in the fall. To be eligible, applicants must be between the ages of 13 and 19 at the time of selection and must reside within the City of Madison.

About the Madison Youth Poet Laureate Program

The Madison Youth Poet Laureate program is a partnership between the City of Madison and the National Youth Poet Laureate program. The Youth Poet Laureate program honors talented young poets and provides competitive opportunities for young people to showcase their literary art on the regional and national stage.

Applications for the 2024-2025 Madison Youth Poet Laureate opened on May 7 and closed on June 7. This is the third year of the program.

About the Madison Municipal Building Exhibition

The Madison Arts Commission presents exhibitions in the Madison Municipal Building at 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., as well as the City-County Building across the street and other public buildings.

Pieces for the latest exhibition, Everything but the Dinosaur: Art With & About Youth, were installed in the Madison Municipal Building this summer and will be on display through May 30, 2025. The pieces can be seen throughout the building in waiting areas, service counters, conference rooms, hallways, and public offices during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00am – 4:30pm.

You can also view a digital copy of each of the pieces online in our virtual exhibition.

  • "Girl Power" by Poornima Moorthy
    Image credit: Poornima Moorty

    Girl Power by Poornima Moorthy

    Image credit: Poornima Moorty

  • "Coatlicue de Suenos" by Roberto Torres Mata
    Image credit: Roberto Torres Mata

    Coatlicue de Suenos by Roberto Torres Mata

    Image credit: Roberto Torres Mata

  • Untitled by Jennika Bastian
    Image credit: Jennika Bastian

    Untitled by Jennika Bastian

    Image credit: Jennika Bastian

  • "Memories of a Jamaican Childhood" by Sonia Valle
    Image credit: Sonia Valle

    Memories of a Jamaican Childhood by Sonia Valle

    Image credit: Sonia Valle

  • "Re-cycle" by Meghan Johnson
    Image credit: Meghan Johnson

    Re-cycle by Meghan Johnson

    Image credit: Meghan Johnson

  • "Cyanotype on Paper" by Angela Johnson
    Image credit: Angela Johnson

    Cyanotype on Paper by Angela Johnson

    Image credit: Angela Johnson

About the Madison Arts Commission

The Madison Arts Commission (MAC) is an 11-member citizen commission appointed by the Mayor to advise the City about matters of arts and culture. MAC’s mission is to foster arts appreciation by initiating partnerships, developing new audiences, and sponsoring diverse artistic activities by emerging and established artists and arts organizations while preserving Madison’s rich artistic tradition. To support a full creative life for all, The Madison Arts Commission commits to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that empower a just, inclusive, equitable city.

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