On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, the Boise City Department of Arts & History celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment with the dedication of a new public artwork located on the southern façade of City Hall. This event will be streamed live with ASL interpretation via YouTube, and a recording will be made available following the event. Due to COVID-19, this event will take place virtually. Please join us live here: https://youtu.be/esNK9HTylRQ 

 Through “Suffrage Quilt,” Artist Stephanie Inman tells the story of Boise’s suffrage history. Using colorful symbols and patterns, the public artwork celebrates the many successes of Boise’s suffragists, yet it remains unfinished to illustrate that these successes did not secure voting rights for all women, and that even today there is still work to be done. At the event, Inman and representatives from the City of Boise will discuss how the overall goal of this installation is to incorporate the values of human rights, universal suffrage, citizenship, and inclusion. 

Speakers will include: 

• Mayor Lauren McLean 
• Council President Elaine Clegg 
• Council Member Lisa E. Sánchez 
• Artist Stephanie Inman 
• City Historian Brandi Burns 

In honor of Women’s Equality Day and the historic suffrage slogan “Forward through the Darkness, Forward into Light,” the City of Boise will light up City Hall in purple and gold at sundown as a part of the nationwide Forward Into Light Campaign. 

Background: In 2020, the Boise City Department of Arts & History leads the City’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which recognized women’s right to vote. In reality, the amendment ensured voting rights for only a select group of women, excluding many from various ethnic and religious backgrounds. On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified as an official part of the United States Constitution. Through our year-long celebration of women’s suffrage, we aim to raise awareness of the importance of civic participation in our community and to address the work still to be done. More at www.boiseartsandhistory.org/suffrage.