m
36
m ay
— com m u n ityarts—
6, 2011_____________________
“Wild One” by Tyler, stencil
and spray paint with acrylic
on wood panel
Members of the Regional Arts and Culture
Council’s Right Brain Initiative will hand out
ribbons for Best in Show, Best Use o f Media
and Creative Content, but the exhibit isn’t about
awards. W ith pieces ranging from the finger
painting of a two-year-old to the more complex
art musings of teens, for Spavento, the simple
goal of providing an arts education and forum
for youth is the ultimate reward.
“Art is a way not only to express yourself, but
it helps spur creative thinking,” says Spavento. “I
think it’s good to have students go through that
process, of not only starting an idea but develop
ing i t ... where they learn about how to properly
frame something and the process of having
someone else evaluate your art, having it hung
up on the walls.... I t’s a way to open up the ex
hibition and curatorial process to all different
kinds of young artists.”
For Short, this year’s event not only reinforces
the studio’s mission but exemplifies the range of
services offered at 100th Monkey.
“Over the years we have been able to provide
more art classes, camps, after-school programs
and art therapy to individuals and families who
wouldn’t normally have had the resources to ac
cess creative services,”explains Short. “Joy [Leis-
ing, co-owner] and I are excited that we have
been able to see the evolution of services grow to
the extent that they are today and can’t wait to
see what the future b rin g s .”
Monkey Business
100th Monkey Studio partners with SM YRC
for fifth annual art show b y r y a n j . p r a d o
Art has always marched to the rhythm of a
universal heartbeat, the spirit o f creative expres
sion through a multitude of forms something
that everyone shares. It’s in that vein that 100th
Monkey Studio (110 SE 16th Ave.) forged its
Fifth Annual Youth Art Show—in conjunction
with the studios fifth anniversary—opening
Friday, May 6. The exhibit of multimedia works
features pieces by artists ages 18 and younger,
and runs through Sunday, June 12.
100th Monkey Studio was founded with the
desire to ignite artistic connections within the
Community by providing a space to create, view
and discuss art. The studio offers a variety of
workshops and classes, art therapy courses, a
popular summer art camp and a youth art pro
gram that accommodates children ages one-
and-a-half to six years old. This commitment to
fostering youth art motivated 100th Monkey
co-owner Beth Ann Short and curator Eliza
beth Spavento to partner with the Sexual and
Gender Minority Youth Resource Center
(SMYRC) for this year’s show.
“[SMYRC and 100th Monkey] have a similar
philosophy in terms of using art as a way to ex
plore different issues, or different kinds o f situa
tions involving identity,” explains Spavento.
“Not only because the Monkey has this youth
art program, but also because it has a few art
therapists that use the space to do healing
through artistic and creative arts. We think we
were in pretty good alignment with each other.”
SMYRC’s spotlighted contributions to the
show were designed to center on the theme of
how SMYRC has affected the artists’ lives. Jess
Herbach, the center’s resource coordinator, ex
plains that community-building alliances such
as this assist in the efforts for marginalized
young people to hurdle the isolation they nor
mally experience, and to instead express them
selves and their stories creatively.
“Often, due to a variety of circumstances,
young people and marginalized people are not
welcomed to tell their stories, share their art or
be who they are publicly,” says Herbach.
About a dozen submissions came from
SMYRC through the center’s drop-in art room,
as well as from homes.
“Community events like this help change
that,” continues Herbach. “Building a network
of incredible queer community support is crucial
for people of all ages because it shows us that
not only are there other queers out there, but
that we care about each other, we care to hear
each other’s stories and we are eager to make
that network of support even bigger.”
Joining in on the opening and reception May 6
from 6 to 9 p.m. are representatives from the O r
egon School for the Deaf. Following regular visits
all school year from The Reclamation Project’s
Tim Combs—who provided education to the
students about living a creative life, selling art,
creating narrative pieces and submitting work to
galleries—OSD submitted five pieces for the ex
hibit. Additionally, OSD is bringing the five fi
nalists from the school’s Poetry O ut Loud com
petition to read during the reception. Poetry Out
Loud (POL) is a national recitation contest in
which Oregon was the first to include a School
for the Deaf. Performances by young local musi For more info, about the Youth A rt Show, visit
cians are also expected at the opening.
thelOOthmonkeystudio.com or call 503-232-3457.
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