Artisphere: Dafmark Creative Arts Center's Young Talent Shines at City Gallery

Contributed

The Dafmark Creative Arts Center provides students aged six and up the opportunity to learn the arts in a free, after school program that spans art genres. Their upcoming student art show and sale at City Gallery is titled Artisphere.

OPENING THURSDAY, NOV. 2

The students participating in the Dafmark Creative Arts Center programming are holding their third annual art show and sale at City Gallery, entitled Artisphere. The work will focus on the techniques the children (ages six and up) have learned through the innovative and inclusive classes in the Dafmark Creative Arts Center housed within the John A. Horan apartments. This program creatively meshes education and art, and is specifically designed to reach those students in the City of Erie who reside within public housing. The program provides 10 arts classes each week across various mediums, employs over 20 teaching artists each year, and serves approximately 150 children. 

This opportunity to show their art in a public space at a legitamate art gallery will help the students understand that art is important and that their work is worthy of being shown alongside professional artists. Program director, Jennifer Dennehy comments, "It is such a beautiful thing for the kids to be able to see their work in a professional gallery space, to be able to talk with community members about their work." And the students will also learn that art can be a career option. Dennehy continues, "The students are paid – 50% of the proceeds from anything they sell – which will contribute to the understanding that art has value and that it is a career path." The remainder of the proceeds will serve as a fundraiser for the continuation of the youth arts program through Dafmark.

The opening reception is taking place on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and the young artists' work will be shown and listed for sale. These pieces range in medium from painting, drawing, and ceramics, and also include a collaborative bench constructed by a group of students as well as two mosaic tables. There will be live music provided by Anthony Carson with hors d'oeuvres and refreshments available. Please consider joining the folks from Dafmark Creative Arts Center as they work to fulfill their mission of bringing art education to everyone.

Opening Thursday, Nov. 2 // 5 to 7 p.m. // City Gallery, 1503 State St.