Nurturing Young Artists: A Look Inside SHG’s Youth Committee Program
By: Gabriela Padilla
In 2022, The Getty Foundation launched an innovative program aimed at nurturing early-career arts administrators within the arts industry. The Getty Marrow Emerging Professionals pilot program is dedicated to empowering alumni of the Getty Marrow Undergraduate internship program by providing them with valuable full-time, entry-level employment opportunities in museums and nonprofits.
As the Education and Public Programs Coordinator at Self Help Graphics & Art, I have been fortunate to play a crucial role in supporting an array of impactful SHG programs. My responsibilities encompass a wide spectrum, including education-focused initiatives, art programs, exhibitions-related programs, and anchoring the celebrated SHG Dia de Los Muertos season. This position has also granted me the unique opportunity to actively participate in organization-wide strategy and long-term planning alongside a dedicated team.
I take great pride in my role as a co-facilitator for the SHG Youth Committee. Our mission is to engage and empower young artists within the vibrant Los Angeles community. Last year marked the exciting commencement of our fourth Youth Committee cohort, comprising talented individuals: Aaron Diaz, Sol Aguilar Ramirez, Anthony Perez-Perez, Ariani Ray, Carlos Cano, Dani Marin, Eztli De Jesus, Ixchel Cruz, Karen Perez, Karla Guzman, Maddy Rubio, Esabella Gerardo, Paulina Jimenez, and Julian Hernandez.
The primary objective of the Youth Committee program is to cultivate creativity, cultural awareness, and artistic skills among our passionate youth. This year, our cohort expressed a keen interest in exploring the realms of printmaking, ceramics, and various other art mediums, In addition, they took part in an array of stimulating workshops, engaging artist talks, and inspiring projects. Below are a few examples of workshops and projects the Youth committee engaged with.
Workshops
DIY Silkscreen: Led by teaching artist Ernesto Vasquez, the DIY Silkscreen workshop aims to introduce participants to the art of screen printing, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to create their own prints independently. The DIY Silkscreen workshops covered various printing techniques, including ink application, setting up printing stations, and using squeegees to transfer ink onto different surfaces like paper, fabric, and other materials. This workshop provided an excellent opportunity for the youth to learn valuable printmaking skills and explore the expressive possibilities of screen printing.
Image of Eztli De Jesus, 2022-23 Youth Committee Member.
Textile Printing: In this workshop, participants learned about block printing, a traditional art form that involves carving EZ cut blocks, allowing for unique and intricate designs on textile materials. The youth designed their patterns, which were then transferred onto tote bags.
Ceramics: The youth also expressed a strong interest in exploring clay as a medium. Through the hand-building method, they crafted trays and incorporated decorative elements such as carved patterns and stamps. Handbuilding with clay offered a hands-on experience, encouraging creativity and experimentation with different techniques. Patience and an understanding of the clay process were key to creating successful and beautiful final pieces.
Artist Talks
Throughout the spring, inspiring artists like Corey Pemberton, Jackie Amezquita, and Pato Hebert shared their art practice and experiences with the Youth Committee. Their insights on various art forms provided valuable perspectives and inspiration for our young artists.
Artist, Jackie Amezquita leading a workshop with the Youth Committee.
Projects
Highlighting Community Members: Collaborating in groups, the SHG Youth Committee worked on projects to highlight community members who have made a significant impact on their lives and the community. This project aimed to recognize and celebrate individuals including artists, teachers, small business owners, and more. Some of the individuals that they selected were local artists such as Jose Ramirez, Maria Garcia, a program manager at RainbowLabs, and a teacher from Roosevelt High School, Jason Torres-Rangal. Groups chose a variety of media formats that they wanted to highlight the individual that was selected which was then shared on the SHG youth Instagram page. Below is an example of one of the groups portraits of local artist, Jose Ramirez.
Portrait of José Ramirez by Esabella Gerardo, 2022-23 Youth Committee Member
Summer Youth Night: In partnership with the Las Fotos Project Youth Council, the SHG Youth Committee organized an exciting Summer Youth Night filled with music, art, food, and community. The event celebrated and highlighted street vendors through art projects composed of photography by the Youth Council at Las Fotos Project and an art installation by the SHG Youth Committee that included objects made by the youth and a short video. In addition, earlier this year, the Youth Committee learned about street vending from organizers from Community Power Collective. The event fostered creativity and brought together young talents and community members.
With the dedication of our enthusiastic participants, we aim to leave a lasting impact on the arts community and foster a new generation of talented and socially aware artists in the City of Los Angeles. To learn more, please visit the SHG youth Instagram page. Together, we strive to make a difference and create a brighter future for generations to come. Application for the 2023-24 Youth Committee cohort opens in August 2023.
Gabriela Padilla is the Education and Public Programs Coordinator at Self Help Graphics & Art.