High School Art & RuralMurals^© Project

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 10, 2008, 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit remains through June 8
Gualala Arts Center:   Jacob Foyer

Pacific Community Charter High School

The Pacific Community Charter High School maintains a robust, eclectic, and innovative art department inspiring and encouraging creative minds and outside the box thinking. The art class is taught by Melissa Sillick.

The students at PCCHS have been working on a range on media, techniques and ideas. The emphasis has been placed on process and craftsmanship through skill development and experimentation.

Analysis of historical and cultural art broadens the students' understanding of the artistic process, fuels their ideas, and empowers them in seeing and interpreting the world around them.

Point Arena High School

Art Classes at Point Arena High School have been very busy!

They started the year off doing multicultural lessons such as Sumi-e drawings and Pomo basket weaving. Students created lots and lots of different projects including stained glass, metal embossing, scratch art, digital imaging, clay model figures, block-printing, tile painting, watercolor, children's book illustration, painting and drawing and so much more.

Thanks to the Pt. Arena's Boosters Club, the art room received a new printing press! Students created etchings and monotype paintings; they look great!

A variety of the different projects done over the school year will be on display.

Michelle Grove, new teacher to the school district, is more than impressed with the students' work and proud of all they have done.

RuralMurals^© Project

The RuralMurals^© Project is a successful drug & alcohol prevention, after-school youth program that has been available to middle and high school students throughout Mendocino County.

The project combines artistic expression and the beautification of communities. Thirty-four (34) beautiful murals in all regions of Mendocino County have been created since 2001 including two murals in the JAMI amphitheater at Gualala Arts Center. During the 6th year of the project, ('06-'07 funding cycle) 3 murals were created and mounted within the City of Ukiah. The special project for year 6 was a county wide Anti-Alcohol & Drugs Poster Contest.

Allan Droyan, Ft. Bragg, and Peter Dobbins, Pt. Arena have taken photographs of this noteworthy project that are in-and-of themselves beautiful, as well as a testament to the project. Their images will be on display in the Jacob Foyer May 10 through June 8, 2008.

More about The RuralMurals^© Project:

What do we provide?

The RuralMurals^© Project provides each art team with funding for a muralist, an assistant, stipends, art supplies, snacks, a trip to the Mendocino Adventure Ropes Course or another team-building activity, mural installation, and a public dedication ceremony.

Who benefits?

Each mural is designed and painted by youth art teams. The murals are positive and highlight community values and traditions, while providing an alcohol and drug prevention message. Students benefit from their artistic training, sense of self-value and community involvement.

What participants say about us?

Over 300 youth have participated in the RuralMurals^© Project since 2001. These young artists assert that the project has benefited them. Many have stated they enjoyed contributing to their communities. Others have said that they would like to become artists. Furthermore, many feel that they will be able to make healthier decisions about their lives.

What is our funding source?

The RuralMurals^© Project is a program funded by the Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Branch, Alcohol and Other Drug Programs, Youth Services, through a grant from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) www.samhsa.gov.

The RuralMurals^© Project is part of The Public Health Branch, Alcohol and Other Drug Programs, Youth Services office in Ukiah. More information is available at www.ruralmurals.org.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.