Poster portrays unity

University student designs image of Martin Luther King Jr. to represent the link between diversity and community.

He speaks to the world without uttering words. Posters, buttons and flyers displayed around the University have most recently become his voice.

Erik Harrison (senior-photography and graphic design) used his artistic talent and desire to bring different groups of people together. He created the image that illustrates the theme of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, "Communities Embrace Diversity."

"I think (the poster design is) a good execution of an idea. It's relevant to what the event is about," said Jeff Klein (senior-graphic design), Harrison's classmate.

Their senior design class was given a poster design project centered around the King holiday. Students were presented with this year's theme and each had to come up with a pertinent image.

Harrison's commemorative profile of King against a backdrop of intermingled threads is the product of a work in progress. He couldn't clearly identify the spark that ignited the flame of art in his heart. Harrison only knew that the processes of art and photography left him awestruck.

"I've always doodled," he said. "Growing up, Mom was always taking me over to the Palmer Museum."

During the years, his craft has become more to him than simple images and photographs. Harrison has enlisted his skills to educate the world, he said. His experience has taught him that art is a process of sharing.

"I kind of care about the way other people perceive the world. I would like to share the way I perceive the world with other folks," Harrison said. His award-winning poster is a step in that direction.

Harrison said he sought inspiration from several sources to make the ideologies of King speak from an image. He brainstormed various trial images during a two-week period while consulting books and movies about the civil rights era. Before long he said he was struck by the camaraderie and togetherness of the civil rights marchers.

"In researching Dr. King and the imagery of the era, I was impressed by the people coming together for marches in the cities," he said. "I began to think of objects that acted in that fashion."

After weighing three or four ideas, Harrison decided on the image that adorns students' book bags, lapels and bulletin boards across campus.

He thought the image embodied the link between community and diversity.

That link has proved successful for one student.

"Whoever designed it, I can see what they were trying to portray. I can really understand where they were coming from," said Demica Durr (sophomore-human development and family studies).

Harrison said he has always had an appreciation for the uniqueness of other cultures within our society. Fueled by his desire for diversity, he spent four months traveling the country and observing the way various communities interact with one another.

"I love difference; I love change," he said. "I used the image of the threads and knots coming together to represent different groups of different people coming together."