A chain link fence art exhibit covered in ribbons was introduced to De Anza College’s main quad on March 3. Inscribed on the ribbons are written messages and simple drawings that tell stories.

“Wake Up” is an interactive public art installation that allows people to share their physical, cultural and personal inhibitions. “Wake Up” will run until March 27 and is sponsored by the Euphrat Museum.

The idea for the wall came from a project in the Euphrat Museum of Art’s Fall exhibition called “Making Space” — a free-standing link fence covered with ribbons with messages on one side and painted signs on the other side.

Juliana Kang-Robinson, drawing instructor, influenced the fence. Her students were inspired by the fence at the de-militarized zone between North Korea and South Korea.

Museum director Diana Argabrite and humanities professor Sal Breiter had the vision to bring back the fence, but they wanted the student body to be part of it.

The Equity Action Council joined the project because it paralleled their goals of modeling and supporting equity, social justice and multicultural inclusion.

De Anza President Brian Murphy and Donna Jones-Dulin, associate vice president of finance & educational resources, supported the idea and agreed to let the fence stand in the main quad, where many students spend their time.

The title, “Wake Up,” originated from the idea of interrupting complacency.  The organizers wanted a space where De Anza community members could share their everyday struggles and hurdles with each other.

“We hope the student body will visit the fence often, add ribbons, read the messages and stories shared, and see ‘Wake Up’ as a collective expression of our shared humanity,” Argabrite said. “We hope they will see how art can be used to help inspire community engagement, compassion and a greater awareness of the challenges and triumphs we share.”

“Wake Up” will be a daily reminder and an invitation to the De Anza community to share and reflect on their lives.