ASPIRE! Black Teen Artists Interpret Success

“ASPIRE! Black Teen Artists’ Interpretations of Success” comes to the San Francisco Main Public Library from March 10 through June 7, 2007. Over 16 talented teen artists from eight different San Francisco, Richmond and Oakland high schools present artwork and stories on success. March is national Arts Education Month.

Alongside each artist’s piece is the artist’s statement on success. They communicate through art and words their dreams and fears; their motivations and obstacles.

“My nephew gave me the concept, even the title,” says curator Kheven LaGrone. “One night, we were debating art and social change in Black SF.”

LaGrone believes dreams are the seeds of success. LaGrone also believes teen years are for dreaming and decision-making. His nephew, Jarrel Phillips, a Black teen artist from San Francisco, thinks differently. Phillips argues that teenagers today have given up hope and many have stopped trying - even stopped thinking about success.

“Nowadays, we think success is not an option,” says Phillips. He especially wanted to keep the theme and title “ASPIRE!” arguing “Now we see somebody thinking about success so we think about success. It’s okay to hope. It’s okay to be optimistic.”

Phillips believes the show can have an impact. “By doing artwork, the Black teen artists think about success. Maybe they’ll give other kids the idea of success and give them hope.”

Student artists from the following San Francisco high schools are included: School of the Arts, Balboa, Phillip Burton, Wallenberg and Ida B. Wells.