Before they can speak or write, children use art to express their feelings. Words and emotions little ones cannot articulate can be communicated through finger paint and crayon long before they can be said. Even as they grow, children, adolescents and teens experiencing life difficulties can often find healing in art.
With this in mind, ARTS San Diego (A Reason To Survive), a nonprofit organization that supports therapeutic artistic expression for youth, partnered with East Village hot spot Hotel Solamar to kick off the hotel’s new “Art-at-6” event on March 23.
The event, a silent auction featuring works by San Diego youth, raised nearly $3,000 to advance creative programs for local children facing adversities.
“The children that participated in the event were very excited,” says Melissa Soliven, Events & Volunteer coordinator for ARTS San Diego, in an e-mail. “Not just in the event itself, but in the mere fact of having their art work framed and admired in the stylish downtown area.”
Around 100 guests mingled and sipped wine as they viewed 38 pieces of art contributed by children from Children’s Hospital, the Monarch School, the Cortez Hill Family Center, and the Ronald McDonald House.
All 38 pieces of the collection, ranging from framed photography to paintings to mixed-media works, sold, said Katherine Lewis of Bailey Gardiner, the public relations firm handling the event. The highest bid went for $330.
The theme of the event was “Sun and Sea,” a reflection of the hotel’s name, Solamar, derived from sol (sun) and mar (sea). All of the pieces followed a sea theme.
Art-at-6 will be a continuing monthly feature at Hotel Solamar. For the next show, the hotel will partner with Dress For Success San Diego and will feature a local artist who works in textiles.
According to their Web site, ARTS San Diego partners with established community organizations to put on programs that focus on visual and performing arts. The programs are facilitated by volunteers who encourage hope, self-confidence and expressive outlets for children undergoing difficulties to experience the healing power of art.
One of their programs is “expression sessions,” where ARTS brings supplies to a location and walks children through art exercises specifically designed to help them express emotions through art. Many of the children at one point or another have been dealing with illness, homelessness or recovering from trauma.
ARTS also host a series of professional artist visits, and special events such as Art-at-6.
ARTS San Diego will be hosting a gala fundraiser May 20 at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. For more information visit www.artsurvive.org.