A May 31 art reception brought pride and joy to students in the Life Skills art program at San Benito High School and at Hope Services in Hollister. The work is on display at the ARTSpace Annex at 217 Fifth St. until June 11.
Student drawings with themes of animals and holidays lined the walls of the reception. Laughter and love filled the room.
“It is a closure of this year,” art teacher and Arts Council President Louise Roy said about the event, “all the joy they have doing it and the joy they give me.”
Students Antonio Covarrubias and Lupe Navarro received certificates of completion for finishing the four-year Life Skills art program. According to the San Benito High School website, the program’s curriculum emphasizes community-based instruction, vocational education, functional academics and more, providing students with opportunities to learn skills in the community, as well as specific career training.
“It inspires me,” said Navarro of the program.
Patricia Avila, whose 12th-grade son Christopher is part of the program, told BenitoLink of the improvements she has seen in her son since he started doing the artwork.
“When he goes back home he talks about it, we talk about it and his language skills have improved, he has gained a lot of social skills,” Avila said.