Express Yourself Milwaukee, or EXYOMKE for short, uses arts education to heal, repair and inspire Milwaukee youths who’ve experienced trauma in their daily lives. That mission was reflected in this year’s show theme, “Kintsugi,” the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by filling cracks with gold or other precious metals. The end result celebrates the object’s history by restoring it without disguising the damage.

The event featured youths from Artworks for Milwaukee, Hopkins Lloyd Community School, Lad Lake, Lancaster School/Turnaround Arts, Mary McLeod Bethune Boys and Girls Club, the Norris Academy, Rashid House, Running Rebels, Westside Academy Children’s Outing Association and Wraparound Milwaukee, with representation from the Milwaukee County Accountability Program, the Milwaukee County Juvenile Detention Center and the Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Center School.