Lindsay Community School Student Artwork Displayed at Public Exhibition

Lindsay Community School students recently had the opportunity to display their original print artwork at the San Diego Central Library as part of the Art Works Fellowship Program.

The May exhibition represented the culmination of the Art Works Fellowship program — an 11-week, hands-on educational experience designed to cultivate the creative abilities of independent study students. 

The capstone printmaking project demonstrated the students’ refined artistic skills and prepared them for academic and professional futures in the arts. In addition, a $250 stipend was awarded upon completion, underscoring the value of their artistic endeavor and empowering students to envision a viable future in the creative sector.

Lindsay Community School is an education program designed for pregnant and parenting teens in grades 9 through 12 within SDCOE's Juvenile Court and Community Schools (JCCS). JCCS students have been participating in the fellowship program for several years.

 "Art Works is more than an opportunity for our JCCS students to be creative, it's a chance for our students to push themselves and envision their career paths," said Amanda Wallace, JCCS VAPA technician. "The biggest success, aside from the confidence the students have developed, has been the chance for students that have graduated to come back to the classroom as interns with Arts Education Connection. In our partnership with AEC we have created a model for our JCCS students to earn money doing what they love. It's a phenomenal model for our graduates, and inspiring for our current students to see the real opportunities available to them."

The exclusive showcase, hosted by the Pauline Foster Teen Center at The San Diego Central Library @ Joan A. Irwin Jacobs Common, celebrated each student’s dedication and artistic development. Marking the third year of the Art Works Fellowship program, the initiative, delivered by Arts Education Connection San Diego and generously funded by the California Arts Council, is a synthesis of education, art, and community engagement.  

Led by accomplished Teaching Artist Lorain Khalil Rihan and Assistant Teaching Artist and program alumna Briana Lopez, the program offers a unique blend of structured instruction and open studio practice, resulting in more than 50 hours of immersive art sessions.