Young artists help beautify Clearlake

CLEARLAKE >> Sure, there’s art you can export from across the country or overseas to hang in your living space or business, but there’s something about local art — especially when it’s carefully crafted by young hands.

What started as an idea to help beautify the streets of Clearlake, youth artists as young as 10 years old will now have their artwork hung on the city’s businesses.

“We wanted to help decorate our city with public murals and children’s art,” said Stephanie Figueroa, Art Director of the Art House Gallery Clearlake. “We want people to quit looking at the bad parts of the community like trash and aftermath of previous fires.”

Inspired by the Lake County Quilt Trail project, a collection of hand-painted quilt squares placed in homes and business around the county, Figueroa, and President of the Children’s Museum of Arts and Science for Lake County Carolynn Jarrett turned the idea into a community service project titled Wildlife Clearlake Youth Art Project.

It was no easy feat, however. Figueroa started by recruiting young artists at Konocti Unified School District before summer, “challenging” at first as the start of the project lacked cooperation. Though they were unable to reach middle school and high school students, it was the “fourth, fifth, and sixth graders that really pulled it off.” After tirelessly going from classroom to classroom, after school programs, and conducting presentations with 150 guests, it was time to receive entrees. About 30 entrees were submitted and summer had commenced. The real work was about to begin.

“It was a tough summer with the heat, but we got major support from local businesses and organizations to help kickstart the project,” said Jarrett. Among those that supported was Woodland Community College who offered an air-conditioned room, with ample work space and a sink as the projects would consist of using paint. The City of Clearlake, Mendo Mill, Plaza Paint in Lakeport were among others who aided by providing art supplies. Behind the crafty manual work that was about to begin was Jarrett, who went around Clearlake asking businesses if they would like to sponsor a mural.

But it was more than just recruiting and lining up sponsors. The youth artists, mostly of ages 10, 11, and 12, gained experience through lectures on drawing and painting during the summer. From 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the college’s classroom four days in a row, children learned fundamental techniques taught by Figueroa.

“There was definitely a learning experience to this community service project,” said Figueroa. “During our workshops, these kids learned how to mix colors, perception, and lighting through shadowing. All murals used only primary colors.”

A total of 11, four-by-four feet murals were completed by the end of the summer, each with their sponsor. As the project’s title says, artists painted all-things wildlife in connection to the artists’ hometown of Clearlake. Children painted a variety of animals often seen in the area including bass, hummingbirds, and herons. Animals weren’t the only things that were of diversity. Each mural’s sponsors ranged, too. For example, Big O Tires received a colorful art piece with a large bass in the center, painted by Burgundi Stickel, 11. And Woodland Community College chose 15-year-old Joshua Braxton’s mural of an eagle.

The murals have grabbed a lot of attention, with several businesses and organizations requesting murals, according to Figueroa. Among them, Clearlake’s very own City Hall. Painted by 10-year-old Nate Sherman, the city building will have a four-by-four mural of two large herons standing by the lakeshore with Mount Konocti and an orange sunset adorning behind both birds.

Because the murals have made such a large impact on the community, city officials welcomed all 11 art pieces to be on display during Wednesday’s State of the City, held at the Highlands Senior Center in Clearlake. Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom said, “I’m very impressed by our young artists. They (the murals) will mean a lot for the children and the community once they go up.”

Highlands Senior Center Executive Director Joyce Overton, who was at the State of the City encouraged parents to expose their children to art after seeing all murals on display at the gathering. “This helps promote the arts and kids learn to put their feelings down on paper. Art gives them another avenue to show what they can do for their community,” she adds. The senior center sponsored 11-year-old Raychal Raggaeli’s butterfly mural.

The outcome has thus far been more than what Figueroa and Jarrett had originally envisioned.

“The community has really all helped make this happen. Without parents being devoted to bringing their children to the workshops, we would not have these murals finished,” Figueroa said.

Both Figueroa and Jarrett are currently planning to set up an appreciation night for the young artists. Further details on the event are yet to be announced.

https://www.record-bee.com/2017/09/01/young-artists-help-beautify-clearlake/