Xavier Cortada with youth from each of
the 435 U.S. Congressional Districts dedicate their MADD National Youth Summit
Mural on the steps of
the Capitol Building on May 13th, 1997.
The mural was a
collaborative process with contributions made by many, including:
Read article by Laura Berry published on-line at MADD Summit Daily Sentinel:
"Mural
Artist Works with Youth" |
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 1997, alcohol-related
crashes killed more than 16,189 people and injured one million more. Alcohol-related
traffic deaths among teens aged 15-20 totaled 2,209 in 1997, according to figures from the
Fatality Analysis Reporting System. It is estimated now that three of five Americans will
be affected by an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives.
Miami Artist Xavier Cortada has worked
with Mothers Against Drunk Driving in the creation of several murals to raise awareness
about the nations most frequently committed violent crime and the No. 1 highway
safety concern among Americans: Drunk driving.
In May 1997, during MADD National Youth
Summit in Washington, D.C., young people from every congressional district in America
participated in the creation of a mural to voice opinions about underage drinking.
Throughout the Summit, the delegates--joined by dignitaries and political leaders--worked
on a six-panel mural that captured collective and individual resolve on the six themes of
the Summit:
- The influence of Media on Underage
Drinking
- The Role of Parents in Underage Drinking
- Accessibility to Alcohol
- Peer Pressure and Binge Drinking
- Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking
- Law Enforcement and the consequences of
Underage drinking
The mural was unveiled at the steps of
the US Capitol on Mothers Day 1997. National and
international media covered the historic event.
See other MADD murals created by
Xavier Cortada