With pride, 17-year-old James Curtis unpacked the meaning of his intriguing painting.

"It's called, 'Two Face Life.'" Curtis said. "Behind every face, there's another face to a person. I enjoyed creating it, meeting and working with new people."

Curtis was one of many young artists taking part in the Urban ArtWorks celebration outside the City of Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Building in Les Gove Park last Friday. His personal artwork was nestled among other pieces on display in the sunshine. The youth-created gallery capped weeks of instruction and application through an Urban ArtWorks' summer program.

Urban Artworks, a local nonprofit organization, works with at-risk youth to produce public art. The program, which is designed to empower young people with professional opportunities in the arts, offers employment training, arts education and community building.

A U.S. Department of Labor/Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration grant and support from the City made this year's program possible.

"We don't reach kids very often (in the Auburn area)," said Kathleen Warren, program director for Urban ArtWorks. "But when we got the kids and the funding, we made this happen. I think it's wonderful … they did a great job of making it happen."

Nine youths qualified for the JRA-backed program. Each participated by completing 20 pre-designed abstract, representational and playful-themed murals. The panels decorate the construction zone of the planned community gymnasium on the Les Gove Park campus. The City plans to transfer the pieces to a more permanent spot once the community center construction is finished.

The young painters completed murals designed by Seattle-area artist Todd Lown.

In addition, a student-inspired-and-painted mural will be displayed inside City Hall.

The young artists also painted their own personal art pieces for a community art show last week. Half of the proceeds went to Urban Artworks, the other half into the pockets of the creators themselves.

"It's rewarding," said Melissa Struyk, who worked as a lead artist instructor alongside Maija McKnight, the City's visual/public art coordinator. "It's a lot of hard work, but it's very rewarding. The kids are real proud of what they've done."

Contact Auburn Reporter Editor Mark Klaas at mklaas@auburn-reporter.com or 253-833-0218, ext. 5050.

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