The Arts

Through the Boys & Girls Club of Venice Fine Arts program, Club members take away creative skills that help them in standardized test-taking, in their school work, as well as in providing a foundation for further art study should they choose to pursue it, through the experience of making art and being mentored by an adult who is a working art professional. Drawing, sketching, clay, crayon, watercolor, oil pastel, collage, diorama, pen and ink, and mixed media are covered during the year. Exhibitions are mounted quarterly and parents and community members attend.

Eduardo “Lalo” Marquez, our Art Director, is the primary mentor to many of our at risk young people. He grew up on the streets of Watts and was exposed to the Urban Arts of Los Angeles. He is passionate about teaching how to use art as a means of expression as well as fostering the talent of those who have the ability to make visual arts a career.

We are proud to say that the Boys & Girls Clubs of America selected two Venice Club members’ pieces for the 2007 National Fine Arts Exhibit. Guillermo Sanchez’s Devils Rage in Oil/Acrylic and Jun Cha’s Katrina were selected along with 37 other pieces of works for the National Exhibit from thousands submitted by aspiring young artists in Clubs across the nation. The National Fine Arts Exhibit will be displayed at various Boys & Girls Clubs of America conferences. The artwork, along with other winners will be viewed by hundreds of conference delegates throughout the year. In addition, the image will be placed on www.bgca.org in our virtual gallery for future viewing.

Boys & Girls Club of Venice

National Fine Arts Competition Winners

NATIONAL WINNERS

2006

Jun Cha (16) Oil and Acrylic "American Me"

2007

Guillermo S. (15) Oil and Acrylic "Devils Rage"

2007

Jun Cha (18) Oil and Acrylic "Katrina"

2009

Aaron Cornwell (10) Pastel "Los Angeles"

Cesar Munoz (17) Mixed Media "Piano Man"