- Home
- News Grid
- Local News
- Green Hawk
- Politics
- School Zone
- Youth Camps
- Nonprofits
- Missing Pets
- Multimedia
- Arts
- Movies
- Outdoors
- Sports
- News Releases
- Columnists
- Blogs
- Opinions
- Classifieds
- Advertise
- Donate
- Partners
Santa Barbara Teen Center Art Show Is ‘Off the Wall’
Community budgets are tighter than ever, but Santa Barbara Youth Council member Elly Iverson is working to help maintain the teen center downtown, and infuse a little creativity into the public eye in the process. She’s part of the driving force behind a showcase of original graffiti artwork, which will debut at Thursday’s opening night event and will be on display until May.
The Santa Barbara Youth Council is made up of high school and junior high students who help with teen programs and provide feedback to the city council on youth issues. The group is one of the sponsors of the art show, which is a result of conversations that occurred at “speakouts” — regular dialogues in which panelists and the public explore ideas that can be controversial.
“In the month of January, we had a speakout about graffiti and whether or not people thought it was art or vandalism,” Iverson said. The diverse panel included graffiti artists and police officers, and the event, held at the Louise Lowry Davis Center, 1232 De la Vina St., saw a good turnout of teens and adults. The idea for the art show itself was borne out of that discussion.
“From that, we got some ideas and said ‘OK, what can we do in our community to help this problem?’” said Iverson, a Santa Barbara High junior. The youth council came together and decided to host an exhibit that specifically showcased art with aerosol paint as the medium. Iverson then collected about 20 pieces of artwork from various local high schoolers.
Thursday’s show at the Santa Barbara Teen Center, 1235 Chapala St., will begin at 7 p.m. with live music and appetizers. A $3 suggested donation is being accepted at the door. Iverson said all of the proceeds will go to teen programs.
The city council and Santa Barbara school board members have been invited, and Iverson is hopeful the event will garner a solid turnout.
She said that after the city’s proposed 2010 budget was released Tuesday, many at the teen center were disappointed that the Parks and Recreation Department, which has funded teen programs in the past, would be experiencing some of the largest cuts.
“It’s depressing that a lot of our big events that we have, that have really drawn in a lot of the youth, we’re not going to be able to have any more,” she said. Especially during the summer, some of the planned trips the group has coordinated may not happen. “There’s a big question hanging over everyone’s head: ‘Is it going to happen or not?’”
Cyrus Alexander, the Teen Center coordinator, said events like the art show are always welcome and he added that he likes to push teens to put on their own events. “It’s helpful when we have teens taking the initiative to help with programming here,” he said.
Click here for more information on the Santa Barbara Teen Center or call 805.882.1235.
— Noozhawk staff writer Lara Cooper can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Comments
Noozhawk's comments are moderated, but by posting here you accept your responsibility to follow our rules.
- No abusive, defamatory or libelous attacks. In plain English: No personal attacks.
- No vulgar or discriminatory language.
- If you do not follow these rules, don't be surprised if your comment is removed.
- Please use the Report Abuse button on offensive comments.
- Share what you know, ask about what you don't. Give us your eyewitness accounts, observations, background and history. Tell us what else you want to know about the story.
- Stay on the topic, PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK, and forgive people their spelling errors.
Noozhawk's intent is not to limit the discussion of our stories but to elevate it. Thank you for your respectful participation. Click here for our complete Terms of Use.
Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved.
» on 04.23.09 @ 04:34 AM
“In the month of January, we had a speakout about graffiti and whether or not people thought it was art or vandalism”
How naïve - It’s neither - it is about punk gang members advertising and claiming turf - it’s all about ego, intimidation, power grabbing, aggression and territorialism. It illustrates and glorifies the worst characteristics of an human soul and of society as a whole. Duh. I can’t believe it could even be considered art as it is ugly, takes no talent or skill, requires trespassing and I can’t believe it would be given respect and encouraged. Wait, this is Santa Barbara I can believe it. As if acknowledging it and giving it respect is going to stop the vandalism and stop the punks from doing it. Get real.
» on 04.23.09 @ 08:45 AM
Teen program are important. Everyone looks at life through their own perception. Everyone is like Picasso. I do think everyone has their own perception of art. I do think all should learn respect for peoples property and learn to ask permission to place art in a special area.
Youth who do not obey are heading in the wrong way and are truely punks. Aggression and territorialism illustrates a person who lives in a dark mind. We who are ready to teach our children and youth should work together to make a better communitty. We must remember were in America and we are free to speak our mind. If a positive came out of that last speak out lets respect it to continue to build a healthy mind. As for layoffs let’s look at cutting from the top and not removing our valuable staff and front line workers who have been developing the infrastructor of our youth programs. How can we continue to grow if we keep cutting from the bottom ?
» on 04.23.09 @ 09:43 AM
Either call it art or call it graffiti. Don’t call graffiti ‘art’. Don’t call art ‘graffiti’. Don’t glorify and encourage graffiti and the gang culture. It is despicable and tasteless.
» on 04.23.09 @ 03:20 PM
I despise graffiti that vandalizes public and private property with gang initials and slogans. But some of these kids “marking their territory” have true artistic talent. And if Ms Iverson can display their creative abilities at an art show , maybe that would encourage these kids to use their talents more productively: on canvas instead of other people’s property. At least it’s positive a step in the right direction, and if it can help just one gang member/tagger to improve his or her life, it is well worth the effort.
I applaud Ms. Iverson’s hard work and dedication to helping Santa Barbara’s artistic (but sometimes misguided) youth and the Teen Center!
» on 05.10.09 @ 08:07 PM
to the person below me…. no talent or skill? u make me laugh hit the drawing boards and open your eyes art evolves over time…how many people still paint like caravaggio?
things change art changes…
More Local News »
Paul Mann: Nico Vega, Sweethead Share Intimate Concert
The bands play big for a small crowd at Velvet Jones
Gerald Carpenter: Academy Concerts Make Big Music, Intimately
A music marathon kicks off Thursday with a 'Vocal Chamber' program
Music Academy Announces Winners of Marilyn Horne Song Competition
Soprano Megan Hart and pianist Sun Ha “Sunny” Yoon will perform in a recital next season
Gerald Carpenter: Faculty, Brass Open Concert Week at Music Academy of the West
Blend of compositions to fill Hahn Hall in performances Tuesday and Wednesday
Paul Mann: Grand Funk Railroad Rocks Fairgrounds
The band treats patrons of the Santa Barbara County Fair to an explosive opening-night set
Weather: Fair 68.0º
Search Noozhawk »
