Pacific Art League partners with County of Santa Clara: Youth Art Exhibit opens Friday, February 7
SAN JOSE – Santa Clara County’s collaboration with the Pacific Art League (PAL) has resulted in the creation of an “Expressive Art” program providing therapy to former and current foster children through hands-on participatory art projects.
In 2017, County Supervisor Joe Simitian proposed a partnership with the Bill Wilson Center and the Pacific Art League, in an attempt to bring arts and arts training to at risk kids and young adults in the County.
The program began as a year and a half long pilot in 2018 – 2019, and has since provided services in Mountain View, Santa Clara and San Jose through the Bill Wilson Center (a local non-profit serving Santa Clara County youth and their families).
The artwork created by these youngsters in the Explorative Art program will be featured in the Pacific Art League’s “Creating Change Through Art” exhibit, opening at PAL’s gallery (668 Ramona St, Palo Alto) February 7th. There will be a reception on February 7th during the Pacific Art League’s monthly “First Friday” event with a brief program around 7:00pm. The exhibit will be on display through February 27th.
“It was honestly a very obvious match. Pacific Art League was looking to expand its services to a more diverse population, and the Bill Wilson Center is always looking to do more for the kids they serve,” said Simitian.
Pacific Art League has built a team of three “Expressive Art” instructors, who have been instrumental in developing and growing the program. The curriculum was developed by each instructor for their respective locations and focuses on visual art including drawing, mixed media, collage, clay modeling, painting, as well as writing, iPad art, and other mediums. The program generally begins with engaging and thought-provoking warm-up exercises, which ensure the participants are in a receptive frame of mind in order to take advantage of a contemplative arts experience.
The program has been such a success that many participants felt compelled to speak about the changes they have experienced by virtue of their participation in the program. One participant noted that, “Art helps me by putting my emotions into a beautiful image.” While another said, “Our class makes me comfortable to be myself. I have the freedom to be me.”
Krystal, a staff member at the Bill Wilson Center said, “I think Expressive Art is a really great program. It exposes youth to new coping skills. Sometimes in my experience, they draw when things are tough for them because of this program, which is something new for the Bill Wilson Center to offer. Thank you for all you do.”
“We owe it to these kids and young adults to prepare them for life as much as we can. And that includes emotional preparedness,” said Simitian.
The Pacific Art League currently enrolls over 2,500 students of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels in classes taught by a faculty of 40+ experienced artists at its downtown Palo Alto location. The gallery showcases monthly juried exhibits as well as other selected work by local artists. They have been dedicated to sustaining the great tradition of promoting art, training emerging artists and enriching lives on the San Francisco Peninsula since 1921.
The Bill Wilson Center provides services to more than 4,100 children, youth, young adults and families in Santa Clara County through its various programs. Additionally, the Center reaches more than 30,000 clients through its Street Outreach and crisis line programs. Bill Wilson Center programs focus on housing, education, counseling, and advocacy.
The Pacific Art League also provides art classes to underserved children in South San Mateo County, including Menlo Park, working in cooperation with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula.