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Articles - 2007

Willits Skate Park - Kids at play, framed by art
By Jay Gordon
Originally published in the Willits Nickel & Dime www.thenickelanddime.com

Sports and the arts – perhaps not the most likely liaison to come to mind. Yet, there it was on a recent summer afternoon at the Willits Skate Park. It seemed perfectly natural: kids were whooshing and gliding on the ramps. Nearby, young drummers clustered in front of the newly created mosaic murals serenading a group of students, teachers, art enthusiasts, officials, and curious passersby. 

They were all enjoying fair weather, fine music, and refreshments to dedicate the murals created by art instructor Elizabeth Raybee and her talented students from La Vida Charter School at Ridgewood Ranch south of Willits. 

The Mendocino County Office of Education funded the classes in partnership with the Arts Council of Mendocino County as part of GASP (Get Art in the Schools Program).  GASP’s mission is to ensure the arts are an integral part of the education of every child in Mendocino County. 

Elizabeth and Anna

GASP Artist Elizabeth Raybee chats with Arts Council
Executive Director Anna Kvinsland

The Arts Council believes that when the arts become central to the learning environment, schools and other settings become places of discovery.  School culture changes and learning improves as children develop new learning styles through the personal experience of creating artwork.  This year twelve artists have conducted 39 workshops in Mendocino County for students in grades K-12 in visual, performing, media, and literary arts.

Anna Kvinsland, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Mendocino County remarked at the dedication, “As administrator of the ‘Get Arts in our Schools Program,’ it gives me great personal satisfaction to witness the completion of a project, especially one this fine. Elizabeth is a talented artist and teacher, and I’m happy that we were able to support her work at La Vida Charter School. My hope for the students is that this is only one of many opportunities they will have to be involved in a creative project that beautifies and inspires their community.”

This article was first featured on www.thenickelanddime.com.
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