The Juvenile Justice Art Program is sponsored through the Siskiyou Art Council Arts Bus Program. It brings youth who are incarcerated visual, literary, and performing arts, at J. Everett Barr Court School in Yreka. The school is operated by the Siskiyou County Office of Education and serves youth incarcerated at the Charlie Byrd Youth Corrections Center. The arts program has been operating since 2006; through a partnership of the Siskiyou County Office of Education and Siskiyou Arts Council, students are exposed to a wider range of art instructors and artistic mediums to explore.
From Article Appearing in the Mt. Shasta Herald:
Lead teacher Beverly Walls, an advocate for the art program, says, “The collaboration with Siskiyou Arts Council to provide a cornucopia of artistic opportunities for Court School students has opened up the eyes of our students to the varied avenues available for creative expression. They look forward to the interaction with the responsive instructors and the possibilities for learning and growing in new media, such as soft sculpture, mask making, mono printing, hip hop dance instruction, drama, drumming, portrait drawing and creative writing. The students have gained a new level of pride in their artistic abilities as they see displays of their work, perform for an audience, read poems to the class, and create gifts from their art. We appreciate the chance to work with this cooperative team and the talented group of artists. We enjoy the variety the Arts Council has been able to bring to our fine arts program.”
Juvenile Justice Art Program artwork on display. Photo: Tatiana Diakof
The Juvenile Justice Art program started when two volunteers, who understood the impact that art has on the at-risk population, got an idea they thought might be beneficial to students in the Court School. Volunteer coordinator Donna Bringenberg makes an observation, “It is often the case that the youth who are the most at risk for destructive behaviors are highly creative and crave self-expression. This program gives them an opportunity to channel their creativity in a constructive rather than destructive way, and learn new artistic, creative and social skills that are being taught by individuals who have made art and creative expression a big part of their lives.”
Carla & Donna
Volunteer coordinator Carla Glinka has past experience working in the field teaching movement classes to incarcerated women. She brings a high level of enthusiasm to the program, and enjoys seeing the students respond to the different art modalities that are offered. Carla says, “We are thrilled to work with the high-caliber artists who find their way to this program. Individual expertise in their art forms is only a beginning; many artists are responding to a ‘calling’ to work with young people who struggle with creative expression. The Arts Bus artist instructors provide a framework for students to enjoy unique expression through the arts while cultivating awareness of practice and technique. Opportunities to perform and to exhibit culminate each session. Students who may feel hidden, locked-away or forgotten can positively ‘show up’ through their art work. We are lucky to have talented artists as role models, and celebrate their many contributions”
Participating students report that the material presented is interesting and absorbing, and the program has increased their desire to learn new things, relieves stress and gives them a way to express themselves. Multimedia artist and writer Jill Gardner teaches poetry and mono printmaking to the students at the J. Everett Barr Court School. She speaks of her experience, “I am trying to get the kids to break free in their minds and to explore with color and shape. I want them to move beyond what they think they know and what they think they can do well, and to discover new territory. I encourage them to take chances. I try to bring my students information about ways to make a life of art. I teach them about technique and practice as well as presentation. I give feedback that is constructive and honest. I am constantly enchanted by their creations and I let them know it.”
Other artists who have brought their expertise to the J. Everett Barr Court School are Robert Callier (drawing and painting), Tony Green (theater arts), Rene Henery (soft sculpture), Patricia Aulick (drumming), Donna May (creative writing), Jason Gigliotti, (theater arts), and Miguel Mesa (hip hop dance).
Pamela Newman, Siskiyou Arts Council board member and coordinator of the Arts Bus Program, has a vision that all youth in Siskiyou County, regardless of income levels and family situations, will be given many opportunities to experience art. To that end, she donates her time to work on this cause. She says, “Our goals with this program are to offer a wide variety of art mediums to touch the individual student at his or her core, and to employ local, gifted and experienced artists as guest instructors. Offering art to youth contributes to the quality of education overall. Art can foster critical thinking skills, develop valuable workforce skills, increase self-understanding and self-esteem, and build values that connect children to themselves and to their cultures. Being creative is a powerful tool in today’s fast-paced, automated world.”
In keeping with the Siskiyou Arts Council’s mission to bring heart and vitality to our communities, the Juvenile Justice Art Program helps foster these goals by employing local artists and by instilling creativity and increased self-esteem and self-awareness in a population that is frequently overlooked. If you are interested in teaching art in this setting, or contributing to this community partnership in some way, please call (530) 859-2309.
Your recurring financial donations help our youth programs flourish; they also sustain us. Donations of art supplies are also appreciated and allow children to express themselves in positive ways.
