It’s May again: Warm and sunny, and a perfect time to visit Gilroy’s Interim Center for the Arts to view the ongoing Gilroy Arts Alliance Young Artists Exhibit. Since opening in April, families and art lovers have visited the exhibit, smiling at the delightful work of local young artists and casting their votes. Fifty-five entries were submitted and visitors were asked to vote for their favorite entry in each age category.
The winners, announced at the Artists’ Reception April 21, are Kristjan Indermitte (ages 5-9), first place for “Puppy with Ball” and Regan Fleming, second place for “Peacock in a Garden”; Claire Shields (ages 10-13), first place for “Zebra” and Lainie Moniz, second place for “Self Portrait”; and Nina Singh (ages 14-18), first place for “A Strike of Midnight” and Chloe Brennen, second place for “Singing Puppy.” First place winners were awarded monetary prizes donated by the M.J. Filice Youth Art Competition.
You still have time to visit the exhibit through May 19. Even if you have already voted I encourage you to drop by again. Voting ballots have been replaced with paper for you to write a positive comment to one or more of the artists. One never knows how a few encouraging words might change a young person’s life.
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Gilroy Arts Alliance, a hard working, ambitious group of arts advocates, was recently awarded a scholarship by the Arts Council Silicon Valley through the Applied Materials “Excellence in the Arts Program.” The scholarship makes it possible for GAA Board members Sheri Stuart and Sharon Albert to attend the annual Convention for Americans for the Arts in Pittsburgh, Penn. In 2012, the National Geographic Traveler named Pittsburgh among the best places in the world to experience and explore how the arts create a thriving community. Americans for the Arts is an advocacy group that support the arts. The conference will focus on innovative ways leaders are using arts to build communities. Sherri and Sharon will attend pre-conference sessions on public art, emerging leaders and cultural districts. They will have the opportunity to mingle with people across the nation who are making things happen in the arts.
Sherri told me she is looking forward to the conference agenda and touring some of Pittsburgh’s 90 cultural districts.
“Pittsburgh transformed itself from a steel town into a diversified economy by fostering neighborhood art districts,” she said. “Their neighborhood districts combine farmers’ markets and restaurants with public art. I want to bring back ideas on how to foster art leaders and build Gilroy’s downtown into cultural arts districts. Very few places in the country have regenerated after the recession without the arts.”
I spoke with Audrey Wong, grants manager for Arts Council Silicon Valley, about the scholarship. Audrey and several of her Arts Council Associates have attended the City of Gilroy Arts and Culture Commission’s Round Table for the past three years.
“I have been impressed by how the whole community – arts groups, business leaders, educators, church leaders and local government – gets together for meaningful dialogue about the arts,” she said.
With a mission to support the arts in and around Gilroy, the GAA plans a new gallery exhibit every other month. A “landscapes” exhibit will be featured in June and July. Landscape artists are being recruited and may contact [email protected] if interested.
Also featured in the Interim Center for the Arts is the Artisans’ Corner, where local artists are given a dedicated area to display and sell their handmade goods.
In order to keep the doors of the center open, the GAA is always looking for volunteer docents. If you are able to volunteer three hours a month or would like to become more involved, please contact [email protected].
Carol Harris represents the City of Gilroy Arts and Culture Commission.
