Las Artes provides opportunities for youth, ages 16-21, living in Maricopa County. The Valley of the Sun YMCA and Maricopa County have joined forces to bring this innovative youth program to the West Valley. This program blends fine art and academic instruction, social and emotional support, GED and work readiness training.


Mural: Raising A New Generation of Thinkers

Las Artes works on a mural with the community titled: Raising A New Generation of Thinkers, during Global Youth Service Day!
We are using non-verbal communication to emphasize the importance of education, knowledge and imagination, self-growth, maturity and change, life and community.
In the design of the mural, the focal point is the water over the candle (life). The bottom (the foundation) is a book, (education) and the trees (self-growth/knowledge), which arise from the pages, represent imagination. The concept should make the viewer think “wait a minute, don’t books come from trees rather than trees coming from books?”
Book: education, imagination
Trees: self-growth, knowledge, wisdom, oxygen, care for the environment
Leaves: represent community
Cocoon/butterfly: metamorphosis: of growth/maturity, change
(Las Artes de Maricopa school philosophy: metamorphosis; butterfly)
Water: the source of life
Candle: light in the darkness (hope)
Orange/yellow skies: sunshine, joy, imagination, hope, balance, enthusiasm
WORK IN PROGRESS:
We still need to add the final detailing and mosaic butterflies!

Public Art at Sahuaro Ranch


This public art mural was a project the Las Artes students at both locations worked on. When the pieces were mounted, "they finally saw the whole picture."

"We use art as an instrument of education to teach them focus and discipline." 
"It was a lesson in the value of being a small part of a larger mission."  - Martin Moreno

-Las Artes students-
See what AZ Central had to say:

Mosaic Mural

Las Artes is a metamorphosis of youth life.
Accomplishment is the goal.
The butterflies are symbolic of metamorphosis.