Visual Arts Programs - Take Heart

"A picture tells a thousand stories," is very true for the troubled youth that we serve. Through drawing, painting, collages, photography, graphic design and ceramics, high-risk youth can find release from their traumatic experiences by using the visual arts for expression. At the end of the programs, the kids have lasting souvenirs that they can share with their families and friends. We provide them with opportunities to publicly exhibit and sell their artwork.

Featured Program: Arts Calm Down Teens

Amanda McDermott works as the Art Director at "Muscle and Fitness" and "HERS" magazines. She has been mentoring a group of teenagers who have serious emotional and mental health issues at Project Six in Van Nuys. Here's Amanda's story about her Introduction to Art Workshop.

I first connected with Create Now because I wished to explore the role of being a mentor while indulging in two things I am passionate about: art and today's youth. I have had a strong interest in art all my life and wanted to share the benefits that come from self-expression through creativity.

For the past two months, I have been doing arts and crafts with the foster teens at Project Six. These workshops provide the adolescents with the tools and guidance they need to begin the creative process. Some of the projects are fun and simple and others require patience, listening and concentration. Either way, they allow these young adults to express themselves in a positive manner. Read more about Amanda's experiences...

Featured Program: A Jungle Story

Katherine O’Connor wanted to teach vulnerable youth how to appreciate art. Since she coordinates family programs through the education department at the Getty Museum, she wanted to share her love of the visual arts. “My experience with art helped shape who I am today. It is empowering, liberating, an outlet for self-expression, and is fun -- qualities that everyone needs,” she said.

We referred Katherine to Star View Adolescent Center in Torrance. This residential psychiatric health facility is home to 56 severely emotionally-disturbed youngsters ages 12-17 who have been abused, neglected, abandoned and orphaned. Dale Young, the Director of Group Services, was grateful for our free arts workshop. She asked Katherine to help ten of their girls to create a mural in their group therapy room.

Since Katherine had never mentored nor created a mural before, she called on Create Now to get some guidance. We gave her training in how to work with these high-risk youth and shared our California Content Standards curricula for our “Create a Mural Now” workshop. Our staff also introduced her to mentor/muralist Roger Dolin, who gave her some tips. We supplied her with paint, brushes, tarps and all of the materials that she needed. Read the rest of this heartwarming story...

Read about some of our recent Featured Programs

Fine Art Inspires Foster Kids
Girls’ Detention Facility - Your Donations at Work
Create Now Youth Give Peace a Chance
Women's Shelter of Long Beach
Upward Bound

Special thanks to the sponsors of our Take Heart program

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the Kaiser Permanente Foundation.