ArtPrize artists to paint "My Great Future Is..." mural at Steil Boys & Girls Club

At Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids, youth are provided a safe space to learn and develop the skills they need to achieve a great future. One way to help children understand themselves and others is through art, specifically murals. Youth are challenged to examine art and its importance within the community through murals.

ArtPrize artist Alberto Gomez and his wife Luz Stella traveled from Florida to paint a mural in the Steil Boys & Girls Club. The mural is themed “My Great Future Is” and Club members from the three Grand Rapids Club locations participated in a drawing contest depicting what their great future is. Fifteen finalists were selected, and their futures are being joined together in a larger vision for the gymnasium wall at the Steil Club. This mural will mark 31 murals that Luz Stella and Alberto Gomez have painted over the years in the United States.

“This mural project shows the true diversity of the great futures of Boys & Girls Club members,” said Erin Crison, Director of Programming at Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids. “We have members who want to be doctors, singers, teachers, scientists, and scuba divers, and it is so exciting to think that with the support of the Clubs and their families and the Greater Grand Rapids community these great futures will be actualized!”

Both artists and young artists from the Clubs have been spending nearly every day this week turning a simple wall into something that the Club members can be inspired by each day. The mural will be revealed and dedicated at a wrap-up ice cream social open to the public on June 10^th at 4:30pm.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth

In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them. Founded in 1938 by Grand Rapids Superintendent of Police Frank O’Malley, Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth engages youth in building positive and meaningful relationships with police officers, staff and adults through programs in the areas of recreation, education, leadership development, healthy life skills, arts, education and positive community services.  Boys & Girls Clubs offer programs and services that promote and enhance development by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. For more information about Grand Rapids Boys & Girls Clubs visit www.bgcgrandrapids.org.