Program offers homeless teens a place to make art, build trust

By Tina Potterf
Seattle Times staff reporter

	THOMAS JAMES HURST / THE SEATTLE TIMES “Rat,” 18, works on a project as part of Art in the Making, a grass-roots program offering homeless youth the chance to create art alongside Seattle-area artists.
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When Nancie Hines saw what life is like for teens who call Seattle streets home, she was spurred into action.

The Seattle artist had an idea to use art as a way to forge partnerships between community members and street kids, and in the process raise awareness — and money — to help the city's homeless youth.

Months later, and after many discussions with other artists and youth advocates, Art in the Making was born.

Art in the Making is a monthlong interactive program that culminates with a reception and art sale Friday. Organizers set up the "Art Shop," an ad hoc studio in a corner of the Artists' Gallery of Seattle in Pioneer Square, as a refuge where youth can come off the streets for a few hours and create art alongside professional artists and adult volunteers. It's a low-key, open environment where young people can express themselves. A portion of the proceeds from art sales will benefit YouthCare's Orion Center, a drop-in site that offers hot meals, health services, vocational training and more to youth ages 13-21.

Art in the Making The Art Shop at the Artists' Gallery of Seattle, 902 First Ave. S., Seattle, is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday. A reception and art sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting YouthCare's Orion Center, is 6 to 10 p.m. Friday. Information: 425-401-8897 or www.sierradove.org. To learn more about YouthCare and the Orion Center, visit www.youthcare.org.

With Art in the Making, "we're hoping that the teens have a healthy, positive interaction with adults," Hines said.

To move Art in the Making from concept to reality, Hines teamed up with Jozef Dominguez, founder and president of the humanitarian organization Sierra Dove Global Association. Sierra Dove, based in Bellevue and New Mexico, develops literacy programs for disadvantaged youth and is the corporate sponsor of Art in the Making.

Grass-roots effort

Art in the Making is a true grass-roots effort, made possible by a large support network, Dominguez said, which illustrates a collective desire in helping Seattle's street kids.

	THOMAS JAMES HURST / THE SEATTLE TIMES Dominick Lucia, an Art in the Making volunteer. More than 60 artists and volunteers signed on for Art in the Making.

"What this really says ... is that people really want to give and contribute, and they really want to effect change," said Dominguez.

More than 60 artists and volunteers signed on for Art in the Making, creating art for the sale or assisting with art projects.

Another person Hines turned to for insight was Leslie Bourgoin, executive director of Sanctuary Art Center. Sanctuary is a drop-in site in the University District offering a safe place for homeless youth to hang out and create art. The small art studio, which opened in the U District in 1999, exposes homeless youth to a variety of media, from pottery and painting to stained glass.

Recently, a handful of young people, regulars at Sanctuary Art, visited the Art Shop as part of a field trip organized by Bourgoin. The teens and early 20-somethings sat quietly at tables intently engaged in different art projects. Some were stringing colorful beads onto thin wires and cord to make jewelry, while others worked on papier-mâché sculptures and mixed-media art.

Art in the Making affords young people the opportunity to express themselves creatively and to learn more about the craft from professional artists, Bourgoin said.

"I think Art in the Making is a wonderful way for the public to have their awareness raised about homeless youth," Bourgoin said.

Creative outlet

Cheyne Gose, 22, is one of the Sanctuary regulars who recently visited the Art Shop. In the three years he's been in Seattle, Gose, originally from Missouri, has been living on the streets or in shelters. Still, he is trying to hone his self-taught skills as a painter. Gose encourages the community to support Art in the Making by buying art.

	THOMAS JAMES HURST / THE SEATTLE TIMES For Cat Llinàs, 17, working on a papier-mâché piece, Art in the Making provides a valuable opportunity "to do something that homeless kids wouldn't normally be able to do."

"There's a lot of cool art here and a lot of beautiful art," he said, "and they'll be helping out the homeless youth."

Cat Llinàs also recently visited the Art Shop with the group from Sanctuary Art. Homeless for the past couple of months, Llinàs lives in a shelter in Shoreline and drops into Sanctuary Art Center once or twice a week to do stained-glass projects. At the Art Shop, she was busy twisting heavy wire into a star shape for a wind chime. For Llinàs, 17, Art in the Making provides a valuable opportunity "to do something that homeless kids wouldn't normally be able to do."

Art in the Making co-chair, jewelry artist Monica Cokeley, said the program sheds light on a serious local issue.

"I think the kids on the streets of Seattle is all our problem. It's our problem that we have 900 to 1,000 kids on the streets every night," Cokeley said. "The kids on the street can find opportunities if we allow them to be who they are. (Art in the Making) is one little way of doing that."

	THOMAS JAMES HURST / THE SEATTLE TIMES "Me," created by local artist Shelly Brack, hangs in the entrance to the Art Shop at the Artists' Gallery of Seattle in Pioneer Square.

While it's too early to gauge the full impact Art in the Making will have, organizers plan a "Music in the Making" concert in the fall, and possibly a similar event featuring dance. The hope is that Art in the Making will serve as a model for other cities.

Money raised from Art in the Making will go toward basic need services provided by YouthCare's Orion Center, as well as adventure-based recreational programs that foster trust, such as skiing and rock climbing. Orion Center sees an average of 200 to 400 youths a month, said program manager Tobin Marsh.

"One of our biggest challenges is to simply build trust, to help them to believe in themselves and help them create opportunities in education and employment training," Marsh said. "And have fun, positive activities that are an alternative to hanging out in the hustle and drama of street life."

Tina Potterf: 206-464-8214 or tpotterf@seattletimes.com

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