The one experience that I enjoyed at ArtWorks was that in my group, the Shade Shelter, our group designed a shade shelter for the teens who worked on the science corner. So when they went on break they wouldn’t have to sit in the hot sun. I also enjoyed going on all the field trips like the sculpture park. I really enjoyed myself. To be an artist I think it means to be creative and different and have your own personal style. My experience from working with ArtWorks influenced my ideas about art. The artist that I worked with taught me how to think outside the box and don’t be afraid to take chances. I also think that this is a great experience for all teens who love to make art.

As an apprentice and a growing student, I was helped by St. Louis ArtWorks to love the work I do. I came with stage fright and left knowing how to get in front of family and friends and act. It also gave me a new way to look at art. First it was just a word, not that much but now it is to me passion, love, anger, and expression of one man’s mind telling a story of lives. That’s why I love St. Louis ArtWorks. Even as the year is over and the job ended, I tell every one how much St. Louis ArtWorks helped me in school to learn how to be in school plays and how to get in programs.

Dear Ms. Smith:

When I picked Cleveland up from work today, he had a mouthful to tell me about two speakers who came to the program.  Apparently, he was very impressed with what they shared with the group. 

I wanted to personally "thank you" for exposing him to positive young men, who are making a difference in our community. Our generation needs to be reminded and see that there are extraordinary speakers and leaders that care about them. 

So again, thank you!

Regina Walton

I had the opportunity to work with ArtWorks on the Whitaker Urban Concert poster project for Grace Hill Settlement House. It was a good experience all the way around. First, they were professional. They submitted several different ideas and worked with us on the final execution. They were enthusiastic, passionate, and took direction well. Secondly, it made us proud to know that our poster was created by a young, aspiring artist working within a top-notch not-for-profit organization. Working with ArtWorks is a win-win for everyone.

I deeply value the experience that I had while working here. ArtWorks helped me learned more about the world of art and its use as a career. Even though I have not yet decided what career I should pursue, ArtWorks gave me the chance to preview many art careers before I actually go into one.

St. Louis ArtWorks enlightened me in various ways when it came to art. Art is the quality of being able to express yourself. ArtWorks gave me the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment I would like to become stable in later in my life. I thank ArtWorks for teaching me that art is not always about drawing, but the way you express yourself in life.

ArtWorks changed my idea of how I looked at art and how I interpreted it. Before ArtWorks, I took a quick glance at a work of art; if I didn’t understand it I would just dismiss it. Now that I am a trained artist and understood what goes into a single piece, I take more time to look at the artwork. I look at the art piece like a story, and I try to interpret the story that the artist is trying to tell the viewer. ArtWorks had developed my view of art to an open-minded interpretation of every work of art I come in contact with.

Another experience I gained from participating in the Summer ArtWorks Apprentice Program was exercising my mind. I didn’t just sit around and watch TV every day, instead I learned about topics that sparked my interest. ArtWorks is far better than other jobs because it’s actually fun and you can benefit greatly from it.

"St. Louis ArtWorks apprentices created fantastic murals for the Deaconess Foundation. The student/apprentices work--displayed throughout our offices--is thought provoking, visually appealing and expresses the core of our mission."

“Several things have impressed us concerning the ArtWorks program as we have worked with administration, mentors and the young people involved in our project. Foremost is commitment on the part of all three groups—administration and mentors to making the students experience both instructive and fulfilling—and the students to learning about the topic they are depicting and to creative expression of their perceptions.

We particularly were struck by the efforts to approach the task in a professional manner—the students came to our site for a client conference, asked many good questions about what we do and why, and translated those ideas into a work that has meaning to us because it has meaning to them.”