Arvie Smith's "Project Hope" is unveiled at Juvenile Services

Since July 2009, local artist Arvie Smith has been working with youth in pre-trial detention under Measure 11 at the Multnomah County Juvenile Services Division to create five 8‟x15", murals for Multnomah County’s public art collection called Project Hope. The content of the work developed in part from the youth and in part from the artist’s interpretations based on many hours of conversations about what matters to them and where they want their lives to take them. The images and places range from real to fantastical and the push and pull of warm and cool color create emotion and passion. The event was catered by Courtyard Café and Catering which provides training to youth on probation.

The project is funded by Multnomah County percent for art dollars set aside in the mid-90s from the construction of the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) and is part of Intersections, an artist-in-residence program administered by RACC, that encourages artists to develop socially engaging, interactive art experiences in various community settings. In this project the focus is on the youth involved with the County’s Juvenile Justice system.

The five paintings are part of the County’s permanent public art collection. Three of the five artworks will be temporarily located in city and county buildings and two will remain at the Juvenile Justice complex. Ultimately, all five will be sited at the JJC Complex.

For more information on this project contact Peggy Kendellen, Public Art Manager, pkendellen@racc.org.