Departments sold limited edition prints and conducted art workshops with homeless teens in Salt Lake City
This holiday season, students and faculty members from the art and design departments collaborated to benefit the Youth Resource Center (YRC), a Volunteers of America, Utah program located in Salt Lake City.
BYU alumni, donors and local businesses were invited to attend a fundraising event on November 2, where they could purchase limited edition prints made by Art Department alumni Brian Kershisnik and Gary Ernest Smith. This event took place at Maud’s Café, a coffee shop adjacent to the YRC that offers employment training for homeless youth. Prints were sold from $1 to $500 on a first come, first served basis.
The remaining prints are available for purchase through the end of December at Maud’s Café in Salt Lake City for $45 each. Hand-thrown mugs created by ceramics students are also for sale for $20 each.
Eighteen art and design students also collaborated throughout fall semester to design and teach art workshops for youth at the YRC. Each of the six workshops varied in focus, including printmaking relief, marble paper, silk screening, sewing, and making bags and pillowcases.
“Volunteering for the VOA Teen Center was something I will not forget,” said art student Ricey Wright. “I was able to help teach several teens how to make their own button pins. The teens had so much creativity and they took ownership over their designs, boosting their self-esteem and confidence. This was a really great group of people and I am so glad I could help and be a part of my community.”
