The Nevada City Oddfellows Seven Stars Gallery Youth Arts Program is pleased to be presenting “Emerging Young Artists”, an all-youth art show. The show be featured throughout the month of September at the Seven Stars Gallery, 210 Spring Street, Nevada City. The artists’ reception will be on Friday, September 13, from 6 to 8 pm, and all are welcome!
The Youth Arts Program (YAP) was formed about a year ago, and their mission is to encourage and promote young artists (ages 10 to 23) in our area. This is achieved by providing the gallery space, and the support needed to present an exhibit of their art, and further offer them the experience of selling their art in a gallery.
The YAP has hosted half a dozen featured youth artists in the past year, which is an addition to the gallery’s regular monthly exhibits. September’s show will be the first entirely Youth Art show, and promises to become an annual event.
“Emerging Young Artists” will feature 17 artists, showing a wide variety of mediums and styles. For many of the artists, this will be their first gallery exhibition of their art. The show will feature abstract art, collage, sculpture, ceramics, drawings, paintings, recycled fashion, and photography. Here are some statements from the artists:
Zephyr Kitchens, 19, says “Art gives me the ability to escape the world around me and create a more colorful world that was completely my own.” Zephyr is a multi-media, multi-faceted artist. His latest creative obsessions have been sculpture, painting, and fashion design.
Tavia Whitestone, 17, is a returning artist to the Gallery. She does incredibly detailed drawings with Prismacolor pencils. She comes from a very artistic family, and says she has spent her whole life surrounded by art. She currently attends Nevada Union and is enrolled in the AP art program, as well as the AP dance program.
Lucca Reishman, 17, was introduced to ceramics at Nevada Union. “Through this craft, I have discovered a means of self-expression, focusing primarily on wheel thrown sculptures. My work reflects a blend of personal expression and technical refinement. “
Hannah Harding, 17, is a lifelong resident of Nevada County. She became involved with Haute Trash Fashions at a very young age. She was a model as soon as she could walk! “With my creativity and the inspiration around me, I became a designer of trash fashion. I now see artistic potential in everything, no matter where I go.”
Phillip Robyn, 15, studies Photography at Nevada Union. “Most artists tend to have a signature style or form of art. I, on the other hand, try to do as many different styles of photography as I can. To show hundreds of different depictions of the world around me.”
Sophia Goodman, 14, is a mixed-media artist, born and raised in North San Juan. “I started doing art in about 6th grade, I have been experimenting with different mediums since. I take a lot of inspiration from space and the earth.”
Ro Parker, 14, also from North San Juan, has been surrounded by all the immense beauty that the Sierra Foothills has to offer. Reproducing what she sees is her way of sharing this amazing place with others. She enjoys working in many mediums including colored pencil, watercolor, and mixed media, as well as 3-D sculpting.
Abby Turner, 12, is in 7th Grade, and she loves to draw all things! “I am inspired often just by my imagination and what lives there; other times I am inspired to draw something I experienced or saw in my day. My goal is to be an illustrator one day!”
Raul Blue Cloud, 12, likes to sketch and use pencil. “I don’t really like using color.
I think life has so many colors and beauty. I think a little gray won’t hurt. I like drawing fantasy creatures with a little creepy and weird twist.” His exhibition is called “The Unusual.”
Pele Sweeney-Moradi, 12, is another returning artist to Seven Stars. On a family road trip this past summer, she trained her restless eye on oft-overlooked sightings, creating tiny drawings that have since come to life as acrylic paintings. Pelé’s work is an extension of her personality: colorful, energetic, and conversational.
Alder Steffke, 11, says “I enjoy making art because I like turning what’s in my imagination into something you can see and touch. I mostly enjoy working with pen and paper, clay, and acrylic paint. I especially like form or geometric drawing because of the symmetry and precision.”
Sawyer Shepard, 11, is a sixth grade student at Yuba River Charter School. “Nature is the main inspiration for most of my artwork. I hope to bring a different perspective of beauty with each piece, with the intention of making people happy.”
Penelope Rovick, 11, loves all mediums of art, from drawing portraits to modeling clay jewelry, but has been especially captivated by acrylic paints, recently. She loves sharing her art with the community and being amongst fellow artists.
Isla Bryars, 11, is another returning artist to Seven Stars. She began drawing at one year old, with her Papa. “We used crayons and sat at my little wooden table. I loved it! As I got older, I would get more sophisticated art supplies like the colored pencils, watercolor, acrylic paint and sharpie I use today.” She hopes you enjoy her art!
Brodie Renoir-Snell, 10, has been pursuing ceramics most recently. For his tile pieces, he likes using different tools to create textures. He also likes his pieces to have a story, and will create masks out of any material. Brodie is the great- great- great-grandchild (on his mother’s side) of Pierre Auguste Renoir!
Clara Garvin, 10, draws anime-inspired art. “I love everything Japanese including art, clothing, movies and food. I hope to one day travel to Japan! I hope you enjoy my art and it fills your heart with the same joy I have in making it!”
Samuel McDaniel Heath, 10, says “I have been drawing and painting almost every day since I was 2 years old, when I drew my first person. Nature inspires me to express myself through Art. I also like to sing and play the guitar and drums.”
The Seven Stars Gallery invites you to come in during the month of September and show your support for our talented young artists. Gallery hours are Friday through Sunday 11 to 5. And if you’d like to meet the artists, come out to the Opening Reception on September 13, 6 to 8 pm.
There will be a donation jar, which will go towards our Youth Art Fund. The fund will be used in the future to assist young artists with matting, framing and printing their art works.
The Youth Arts Program continues to accept submissions from local artists, aged 10 to 23, for their monthly gallery shows. You can find an application online by going to the Oddfellows website: www.nevadacityoddfellows.com, and click on the link for “Youth Arts Program”. Or simply drop by the gallery and ask the attendant for an application.