Art Changed My Life

LAYC’s Corner Gallery, at the intersection of 14th Street and Columbia Road NW, highlights the creative work of youth enrolled in classes at the Art + Media House. The current exhibition is the first solo show at the Gallery: paintings by Alvaro, 19 year old student at LAYC’s Next Step Public Charter School, the Art + Media House and a participant at the transitional living program, one of LAYC’s residential houses.

According to Ronald Chacon, Arts Coordinator at the Arts + Media House, Alvaro’s work is tender, pure, vivid and filled with imagery of what is to come and what is gone.

"Alvaro is a prolific painter and has created numerous works of arts that decorate the walls of various LAYC programs,” said Chacon.

Alvaro, native of Mazatenga, Guatemala, moved to the United States almost three years ago with his parents and two sisters. He is currently working towards obtaining his GED. He excels in learning languages and has the quickly become bilingual.

In addition to being an exceptional artist, he is a talented and innovative cook; in his spare time, Alvaro often cooks for his housemates. When he is not at school or work, Alvaro enjoys gardening and spending time outdoors. Alvaro aspires to attend college to pursue arts studies.

For more information on the art display or to purchase Alvaro’s or other youths’ art, please contact Ronald Chacon at 202-319-7312. Exhibits at the Corner Gallery change bi-monthly. The Gallery is made possible by support from Target.

In Alvaro’s own words:

My story begins when my family and I arrived to the United States of America. I was a 14 years old, and I did not have many life experiences. I came to realize that life here was way different than in my country.

My family began to have problems. I could not stand being home while my mom and dad fought, so I had to find another home where I could have the possibility of having a better future.

I felt like I was alone in this world, and I needed someone or something where I could express my feeling and thoughts. I went to the Colombia Road Health Services where they provided me with counseling services. I told my counselor about my situation at home, and she suggested I visit the Latin American Youth Center.

I went to the Latin American Youth Center, and they provided me with the opportunity to temporarily live in the SOP [Street Outreach Program], which provides emergency shelter, among other things, to runaway and homeless youth.

This was a temporary home for me but since I completed this phase in a good manner, the program offered me the opportunity to attend the Transitional Living Program (TLP) which is an extended living program. In this program, I started the educational process to obtain my GED.

As I attended school, I discovered my ability to make art. Through art I have learned to view the world from another perspective. Painting has helped me control my anger and my weaknesses as a way of focusing on something better.

Painting has motivated me, and now I would like to pursue this field as my career. I consider art to be everything you feel, see, and experience.

I don’t know what I would be doing at this time if it wasn’t for the TLP program, which has provided me with the opportunity to discover and pursue art.

I am happy because at the TLP and other houses, my art projects are displayed all over.