New Growth
An exhibition featuring artwork from the students & instructors of Root Division’s Youth Education Program

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 10, 3 to 7 pm
Exhibition Dates: May 7 - 17, 2008
Gallery Hours: Wednesdays- Saturdays, 12-4 pm (or by appointment)

ROOT DIVISION
3175 17th Street (at South Van Ness & Shotwell)
San Francisco, CA 94110
www.rootdivision.org
415.863.7668

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Enjoy an afternoon of art & entertainment for the whole family! Root Division proudly presents New Growth, an exhibition of youth artwork, live music, free hands-on art activities, and refreshments.

The exhibition features artwork by elementary, middle, and high school students and includes painting, water media, street art, drawing and mixed media pieces. The featured artwork expresses the creativity of students from Root Division’s Youth Education Program partner programs including:

• Buena Vista Child Care
• Fairmount After School
• Hoover Middle School
• James Lick Middle School
• Street Styles

Students, families, and guests are invited to enjoy refreshments, live music, and a variety of free interactive art activities.

ABOUT ROOT DIVISION'S YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM:
In its Youth Education Program, Root Division currently provides free art classes for several after-school programs in San Francisco. In addition to training & placing our Resident Studio Artists, Root Division recruits volunteers from the local artist community to teach six-session art classes in drawing, painting, mixed media, sculpture, and/or other arts. Volunteers offer one hour per week and choose the types of projects and media they are interested in teaching. Root Division assists the artists in formulating effective, age-appropriate lesson plans and offers them guidance in working with children. As a result, artists gain valuable experience teaching within the community, and young students are able to interact with adult mentors in the art-making process.

All of our programs serve a diverse group of youth, most of who attend San Francisco Unified School District schools. Two of the programs, Buena Vista Child Care and Fairmount After School, are located in elementary "immersion" schools. We also work with junior high school students at the Bayview/Hunter's Point YMCA, Seven Teepees Youth Program, and Hoover Middle School. A new class "Street Styles," held at Root Division in collaboration with Youth Speaks, is open to Bay Area high school students.

For more information or to volunteer, please email edu@rootdivision.org.

ABOUT ROOT DIVISION:
Root Division is an arts and arts education non-profit located in the Mission District of San Francisco. Root Division acts as an ecosystem for artists in that we provide subsidized studio space to working artists in exchange for their service in the organization. While creating opportunities for individuals to develop both creatively & professionally, Root Division promotes creative expression and builds community through having these artists teach art in after school programs, lead adult education classes, and produce special events that showcase local emerging artists. It is in these connections between artistic exploration and public engagement that we spark the powerful synergy between personal inspiration and social change.

Root Division is supported in part by grants from The San Francisco Foundation, Walter & Elise Haas Fund, Potrero Nuevo Fund. The Second Saturday Exhibition Series is sponsored by grants from the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation, San Francisco Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts Voluntary Arts Contribution Fund, and the Zellerbach Family Foundation.

For further information regarding events and/or press materials, please do not hesitate to contact Selene Foster at 415.863.7668 or events@rootdivision.org.