We are keeping busy here at ArtReach, in classrooms, in our studio, and out in the community. All for the purpose of bringing creative joy to young artists all throughout the county. Together, we’ll build stronger communities and foster youth arts expression.
Whether you choose to join us or follow along on our journey, we’re excited to keep you in the loop about what’s happening here at ArtReach. Now, let’s dive into the latest updates in our community newsletter!
Giving Tuesday // Save the Date
Join us on November 28, 2023 for GivingTuesday, a global day of generosity that unites people around the world. ArtReach will be taking part, and we need your support to make a difference in the lives of young artists in San Diego. We’ll share more about this important day as it gets closer, but here’s how you can get ready to give today.
- Save the date for November 28!
- Visit our donation page to learn more about our mission
- Spread the word to family and friends about November 28 by using the hashtags #GivingTuesday and tagging us @ArtReachSD.
It Takes a Village to Raise a Child!
We are thrilled to share one of our most recently completed mural projects with you all! This mural was in partnership with Children First Collective San Diego and the Copley-Price Family YMCA. Designed by muralist Hanna Gundrum and painted by over 175 community members, this mural serves to joyfully welcome all to the Copley-Price YMCA. Painted just outside the preschool, it is dedicated to all the children and families of San Diego. It tells a story about the importance of community care and advocacy through sheer resilience, nurture, and hope when it comes to navigating the challenges and triumphs of child care.
Starting towards the mural’s left side, we see a night scene, raccoons cuddling up, weathering the long and rainy night – flickers of the moon and fireflies represent hope and persistence through challenging times. This scene also honors caregivers serving non-traditional hours. As we move onwards, we see themes of nurture and community care represented with the watering can, and village, with the phrase “It takes a village,” recognizing and celebrating the incredible community of caregivers that care for our children. City Heights, in particular, has the most child caregivers per capita out of any other neighborhood in San Diego, and this honors their essential work for keeping our communities thriving.
As we make our way towards the end of the mural, we are greeted by a family, biking in tandem and engaging in a healthy activity, almost as if they are biking right to the YMCA themselves. The YMCA statement of well-being, shared by the littlest one in the family, reads: Well-being is the pursuit of mental, physical, social, financial, spiritual, and environmental health. This wholesome understanding of wellness is a crucial reminder that the policies and practices we embrace ought to hold children and their families in their entirety. In this last panel, the sun is out, the clouds have parted, and the initial small sprout, having been watered and cared for, is a bright flower in full bloom. Through overcoming hardship through community care, ongoing political action, and remembering the importance of health and self-care, brighter days lie ahead for all of us.
ArtReach & St. Rita’s Elementary
On View: Fragmented Self-Portraits
The art here, displayed at Carmel Valley Library, was created by our hard-working, creative students of St. Rita’s Elementary from the 2022-23 school year. ArtReach’s goal was to help every student learn art skills, art vocabulary and to feel empowered to access their unique creativity. Laurie Evans, Resident Teaching Artist, led this project in hopes that her students would consider ways to represent themselves through a creative expression of identity through self-portraiture.
They looked at the work of Australian Artist Loui Jover, who is known for his fragmented portraits and experiential play with art materials. Feeling inspired, students were challenged to represent themselves in a self-portrait and take an active role in how they want to represent themselves to the world at large.
This project is intended to elevate the way that students describe and see themselves. Students created their portraits using a collage approach using various materials such as magazines, stickers, ink, and stamps to make a multi-layered piece.
Here’s what Laurie had to say about this project:
“This was my first student art exhibition that I have curated, and I couldn’t be prouder of the incredible journey these students have undertaken throughout the 2022-23 school year. Witnessing their growth, both in terms of technical skill and self-expression, has been truly remarkable. The self-portraits they’ve created not only showcase their artistic abilities but also their unique personalities and individuality.
It’s heartwarming to see how they’ve embraced the lessons they’ve learned, taking inspiration from Loui Jover’s unconventional approach and using a wide range of materials to craft multi-layered, textured pieces that speak volumes about their identities. This project has not only elevated their self-perception but also serves as a testament to the power of art education in nurturing young minds and empowering them to convey their innermost thoughts and emotions through the medium of self-portraiture.”
We are so proud of the students from St. Rita’s Elementary and thank the Carmel Valley Library for exhibiting their fragmented self-portraits.
In the Community // Out Professionals
Fall 2023 has been a season full of visual arts programs for the community of San Diego! When not partnering with local artists or producing art workshops for the public, we have been out connecting to our community and spreading ArtReach’s mission.
In September, our Community Programs team was honored to be the spotlight non-profit at San Diego’s chapter of Out Professionals, which “brings together motivated, community-conscious established and aspiring LGBTQ professionals, as well as supportive allies.” Here, Yasmine Kasem and Kristina Stahl connected with other professionals in the Queer community and spoke about ArtReach and our commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community of San Diego. Here is a snippet of Yasmine’s impactful speech:
“As a queer professional artist, I know that the arts have been a space, home, and vessel for queer folk to speak our truth, share our stories and find each other. As a visual arts educational organization, ArtReach is committed to celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community through our various programs that teach the history of, draw inspiration from, and actively work with queer artists. We will continue to do so. As we are not only an organization that supports the LGBTQIA+ community, we are also made up of that community.”
We’re so proud of Yasmine and Kristina for representing ArtReach and connecting with professionals across San Diego!
Partner Spotlight // Knockaround
Shout-out to Knockaround for the new shades! They continue to be one of our most significant supporters of our free in-class programs while also ensuring that our youth mural artists look stylish while painting their school walls. We take great pride in our partnership with a company that strongly believes in our mission and the importance of providing art opportunities to young people.
ArtReach in the News
We are thrilled to share that ArtReach has been named a finalist for the Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards presented by the San Diego Business Journal.
This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our team and the profound impact we have on our community. As an organization committed to igniting youth creativity through visual arts expression and community connection, being a finalist for this award reinforces our commitment to fostering positive change in San Diego.
This honor fills us with gratitude, knowing that our efforts have been acknowledged alongside other incredible organizations dedicated to making a difference. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the San Diego Business Journal for this nomination!
Join Our Team
We’re hiring! The Community Programs Teaching Artist is a new position that works with local community organizations and non-traditional schools to teach visual arts. These programs center intergenerational community voices, investigate identity, and explore community through individual and collaborative works. The Community Programs Teaching Artists’ primary work is to foster connection, belonging, and collaboration in the classroom while teaching technical art skills to each ArtReach participant.
The CPTA will be a valued member of our small and growing Community Programs team, with space to influence the curriculum and introduce new artistic ideas and processes. This position will also have the opportunity to work alongside local artists in our Community. Access. Connection. series, assisting the Community Programs Coordinator with setting up, organizing, and assisting these community workshops.
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