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sassa wilkes

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  • SOLIDARITY
  • Past Projects
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SOLIDARITY is a year-long, 100+ foot community mural honoring the West Virginia Mine Wars and the people who shaped them. Through portraiture, shared history, and collective making, this project invites people of all ages and skill levels to paint alongside one another and contribute stories, creativity, and care. Created by more than 1,000 West Virginians, SOLIDARITY is both an educational record and a living act of resistance that reclaims Appalachian identity as something rooted in dignity, solidarity, and the power of the Appalachian people.

Community created portrait of Sarah “Ma” Blizzard, 36x48”, Acrylic on Polytab. Designed and planned by Sassa Wilkes, painted in 108 sections by high school students, teachers, and bus drivers from Ripley High School, Tug Valley High School, and Caitlin Trombley’s Appalachian Studies class at Marshall University, with assistance by Barb Lavalley-Benton.

Portrait 3: Ma Blizzard

April 17, 2026

Portrait 3 is complete! This one was such a fun collaborative effort. Our Ma Blizzard portrait was completed in two field trips to the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum by two high schools, Ripley High and Tug Valley High, with students in Caitlin Trombley’s Appalachian Studies class at Marshall University finishing her up!

It is crazy to me how much Ma Blizzard looks like my great-grandmother, Ina Marcum, from Paint Creek, WV. She has been my favorite to work on so far. Her story is absolutely incredible, and involves eviction, sabotage, arrest, and umbrella assault. Learn more about Ma Blizzard HERE!

Barb and I with Adena Barnette-Miller and her Ripley High School students at the WV Mine Wars Museum.

Click here to read Adena barnette-Miller's blog post about her student's visit to the WV Mine Wars Museum.
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Eric Starr and Greg Wireman’s Tug Valley High School students painting Ma Blizzard at the WV Mine Wars Museum.

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Caitlin Trombley’s Appalachian Studies class at Marshall University finishing up the portrait!

Three down, nine to go! Finished portraits include a row of signatures at the bottom showing everyone who contributed 💓

Join us to contribute to the next portraits at May Day: A Redneck Reclamation and the May First Saturday Art Market at West Edge Factory!

Portrait 2: Frank Keeney →