A new project launched in the Southern District of West Virginia
Upon assuming his new role as Chief Judge in 2024 in the Southern District of West Virginia, Frank Volk embraced civics education as a key priority for his term as Chief.
In promoting civics education, Chief Judge Volk has developed an initiative to transform public art into an interactive learning experience for students: The Ever-Emerging Canvas of Freedom: Understanding our Legacy and Progress and Embracing our Continuing Duty to Shape the Future and Expand the American Dream. The display in the Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse in Charleston, West Virginia, features 45 vivid depictions of key events in American history, spanning from the landing of the Pilgrims to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
But the exhibit is just one part of a much larger civics education outreach. Each of the 45 events depicted in the exhibit will serve as the foundation for a paired, five-minute “AI-created” video and accompanying “Kahoot!” digital quiz. These videos, which will be shared with students throughout West Virginia, will bring the events and artwork to life, offering students a deeper understanding of the historical events depicted and the great Nation in which we live.
After students watch the video, they will be quizzed on the subject, challenging them to test their knowledge and engage with the material in a fun and competitive way. You can test your knowledge and view the first video/quiz combination here.
This program blends art, history, and technology to promote civic education in an exciting, accessible, and innovative way. By connecting public art with interactive digital content, The Ever-Emerging Canvas of Freedom aims to inspire students and visitors alike to reflect on our Nation’s legacy and embrace their role in shaping its future.
The installation of the exhibition was led by Rory Perry, Clerk of Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, and law clerk Carrie Miller, along with Systems Analyst Isaac Counts and Court Services Specialist David Boyles. These members of the Court family worked alongside Courtney Chapman, Gallery Director of Marshall University’s Visual Arts Center, and her gallery intern, Lauren Wills, to expertly install the 45-piece exhibit. When describing the importance of the exhibition, and the interdepartmental approach that was taken, Perry stated:
This exhibit serves as a visual reminder of our Nation’s continuing journey toward justice and civic engagement. By presenting these historical milestones in the courthouse where justice is administered daily, we create meaningful connections between our past and present, helping visitors understand the vital role our courts play in upholding the Constitution and protecting individual rights. Working alongside Chief Judge Volk to bring this educational display to life has been a privilege, as it embodies our commitment to public understanding of the federal judiciary.
The exhibition is designed, in part, not just to present historical events. It also emphasizes our shared civic responsibilities and the role we play in shaping the future of our Country, encouraging visitors to consider the courage and sacrifices of those who came before us. It underscores the importance of civic education and obligation.
Visitors thus far have included naturalization ceremony attendees, families attending admissions ceremonies, employees in the courthouse, law clerks on their lunch breaks, and many friends of the Court family in the Southern District of West Virginia. The hope is that as visitors consider these works, they will simultaneously take stock of our shared civic obligations and ever-present duty to carry the American experiment forward. What will their role be in shaping the future of our Nation? Much of that question may be answered by considering the courage and sacrifices of those who preceded us. At bottom, the exhibit is about civic education AND obligation.