Students from six alternative school campuses in Sacramento County will have their work showcased October 10 in Sacramento's Second Saturday midtown art walk.
"ArtEscapes: Real Life, Real Teens" will be featured at the VIBE Center, 1725 K Street, from 5-8 p.m. Guests will enjoy live music and a chance to meet some of the talented young artists. There is no charge for admission.
The art show is presented by the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) in conjunction with the Sacramento County Juvenile Justice Commission, the SCOE Arts Executive Advisory Committee, the SCOE Art Links program and the VIBE Foundation.
"Infusing the arts into our regular curriculum has given our students a new way to demonstrate their feelings in a positive way and to explore or discover their hidden talents," said David W. Gordon, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools. "We have seen improvements in attendance and student behavior where we have student art programs.
Among the works featured in the show are two- and three-dimensional works expressing the "ArtEscapes" of alternative education students.
"Since we began integrating the arts with our Career and Technical Education programs, students have become energized about their school day. They also have produced some great pieces of art," said Tim Taylor, SCOE Assistant Superintendent of Court/Community Schools & ROP. "We hope to extend this program to every one of our students."
"Doorways," a professional development class now in its third year, prepares teachers and other instructional staff to deliver sequential, comprehensive, Standards-based art instruction to SCOE students.
"I love this class and the support of the instructors and students," said SCOE Juvenile Court Schools art teacher Tereze Lear. "Each month I get the chance to network and to work on a lesson that I can take back to my students — we are all growing together."
The SCOE students' 2009 arts calendar garnered an Award of Excellence — the highest honor presented for a special print project — from the California School Public Relations Association. The 2010 calendar will be available for purchase in December 2009.