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The Coast Weekly
Color My World
Youth artists from the One Voice program fill
county walls with gorgeous murals.
By Kate Folsom
July 25, 2002 - The colorful mural on the
south wall of the Student Activities Center at Monterey Peninsula College,
though not quite complete, depicts a scene of California citizens celebrating
their new statehood. The figures in the mural are gorgeously rendered
in bright hues, and the background is a sky full of pastel-tinged clouds
hanging over Monterey's Custom House.
What's special about the mural is not
just its beauty, which is considerable, but the community service it
represents.
Allover the county, from Moss Landing
to Prunedale to Greenfield, 16 large public murals are being painted
this summer in eleven cities by youth artists participating in the One
Voice Arts and Leadership Program. Run by the federally-funded Office
of Employment Training, the mural project began six years ago with 25
teen artists and their adult advisors. Since then, 550 economically-disadvantaged
youths have taken part, receiving $6.75 to $8.25 an hour for their work,
along with valuable job skills. Like the Employment Office itself, which
tries to help people with employment difficulties, the mural project
gives teens-at-risk a head start by offering them job training and artistic
employment for the summer.
"We aim to change lives as well as
landscapes," says executive director Joseph Werner. "We try
to stress the inextricable interconnectedness of all living things.
Our benchmark is to help people see the importance of creativity."
What is somewhat remarkable about Werner's
involvement in the mural project is that he is blind. He can only witness
the beauty going on around him vicariously, though the descriptions
of others, but one can hear in his voice and see on his face that he
is excited about these projects and the opportunities they present.
"Our program is being replicated
all over," he claims proudly. "It's the largest employer of
youth on the Central Coast." Added to a budget of $6 million from
the federal government (through the Workforce Investment Act) the One
Voice program has received $11 million from local and state governments.
"Even with serious budget issues, our programs continue to grow
and prosper," says Werner.
While the murals are designed and painted
largely by the young artists employed by the One Voice program, each
mural has a scheduled "Community paint day" where local officials
and the general public are invited to stop by, pick up a paintbrush
and pitch in. Being at one of the paint days is an experience unto itself.
At the MPC paint day last week, adults in spotty overalls assist visitors
in painting the vines around the border of the mural, and coloring in
the bright poppies. One photographer snaps a picture of Joseph Werner
painting a few strokes. Passerby Larry Ransom, dressed in his MPC cop
uniform, describes the work as "immaculate." One young artist,
Daniel Cherny, says, "It's better than sitting behind the desk
all summer. I'm having fun." Fellow painter Ryan Sesma agrees,
"The mural is fascinating. It brings color to the eye when people
walk by." And Ryan's brother, Jason, adds; "The kids have
come together for their community. There's love here."
As well as the mural painting program,
the Office of Employment Training offers apprenticeships in drywall,
carpentry, masonry, the arts, and leadership skills. "We want to
show people their options," says Werner. He hopes to be able take
over some of the abandoned buildings and available property at the former
Fort Ord military base, to expand the Office's operations.
For now, they have branches scattered
around the Peninsula to assist those who want or need extra training
or education, or who just want to peruse some of the 1,500 jobs they
have listed. In a country where poverty is a very real issue, and in
a county where economic barriers are in evidence, a program that is
working to help people get jobs is a special thing indeed.
The public is invited to the following One Voice
Arts and leadership Community Paint Days, from lOam to lpm: 7/25 at
the Greenfield public library; 7/26 at Interior Concepts and the San
Pablo Bakery in Seaside; 7/29at La Gloria Elementary School in Gonzales;
7/31, Moss Landing Middle School; 82, the Giant Artichoke in Castroville;
and 8/6 at Mike's Pizza and Soledad Furniture in Soledad. Call 796-3313
for more information.
For the pictures that goes with this
article click here.
Take
a LOOK at the mural this article is referring to.
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