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Stone Farrior (pictured) and the other young artists from Charity Family Life were in the studio just yesterday recording the two original songs they wrote this semester, which they will perform live June 8 at The Big Show. We think you’ll agree that their musical creations are both powerful and ear-catching.

The excitement is building for tomorrow’s spectacular event.  If you haven’t already, it’s time to invite your friends and make your plans to join us. You don’t want to miss this show of all shows…and we can’t wait to share the creative and moving stories of our amazingly wonderful young people.  See you at The Biiiiig Show!

Stone, 11

This spring, Mar’Qwan Martin (pictured) and other ART 180 documentary filmmakers have trained their cameras on themselves and their community at Boushall Middle School. The artists’ final piece, to premier at The Big Show, offers a look at the lives of young people in Richmond through interviews with peers, school staff and parents. You won’t find these stories anywhere else–so join us at The Big Show and hear what they have to say!

Mar'Qwan, 12

It’s hard to say whether the T-shirt or the face says it best:  Positively Vibrant. That is the feeling Brian Estrada (pictured) and his fellow muralists from George Wythe High School hoped to capture in their piece at The Positive Vibe Café, a nonprofit restaurant in Southside that provides training to young people with disabilities. The mural, located in the patio area, was designed to illustrate people socializing and supporting one another in a peaceful way–something the artists themselves have demonstrated throughout their 12-week program. We hope you will come to Plant Zero at 6pm on June 8 to meet them and get a preview of their mural, which will be officially “unveiled” on June 17.

Brian, 16

Writing and illustration have been the focus of Jhadaí Mealy (pictured) and the other young people in our spring program at William Byrd Community House. At The Big Show, they will present a book that captures their diverse thoughts and emotions, as well as imagined characters and stories–all under the title Unique Art. In the words of the artists’ group poem:

No matter who, what, when, where
Your perspective is still there.
We envision it differently.
Everybody is unique.

Jhadaí, 11

The young artists and program leaders at Broad Rock Elementary describe themselves as a family, all of whom encourage the other members to share what is inside their hearts. Working with photographs, drawings, words and found images, Jourdan Brown (pictured) and the other young people have created collage “windows” that illustrate their own unique interests, beauty, and personality. Join us to see them and learn more about Richmond’s young people at The Big Show on June 8!

Jourdan, 11

Dahlia Dent (pictured) and the other young artists at the Falling Creek Boys & Girls Club have been the mad scientists of ART 180’s spring semester, exploring media as varied as moss graffiti, woven sculpture and homemade paint. At The Big Show, they will exhibit both their finished pieces and documentation of their experiments in progress. Come see what happens when creativity and unconventional materials collide!

Dahlia, 13

“It’s hard for me to listen or speak to my heart.”

These words are part of a cyclic play created over 12 weeks by the artists in our program at Huguenot High School. Guided by Joe Carlson of The Conciliation Project, Christopher Valdez (pictured) and the other young people in the program have nonetheless learned to trust and encourage one other to be fearless on the page, not to mention on the stage.

Because as one of the artists says, “I love when someone tells me something I can’t do and I do it.”

Joe and Christopher, 17

“Creative Minds” is one of two ART 180 murals in progress this spring. Begun in the fall of 2010, this colorful mural at The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club is a playful collage designed and executed by Brandon Pleasants (pictured) and the other young people in the program. The artists say the piece–which includes images of the earth, puzzle pieces, robots, and a heart with wings–is intended to illustrate creativity and the sense of connectedness among the young people who visit the Club each day. We will preview the finished mural at The Big Show, and host a special dedication event the following day, June 9, on-site in Church Hill.

Brandon, 12