We Are Here:

Creating A Way Forward Together

2023 Art Gallery

We are here: Creating A Way Forward, Together is a collaboratie display of art, highlighting the work of young artists enrolled in Juniper Arts Academy’s 2023 Visual Arts Camp.

18 students in foster care, 89% of whom have little to no access to arts education otherwise, learned from artists Karen Smith & Landen Swearingen learning about watercolor, acrylic paining, and mixed media art.

Juniper Arts Academy had the great privilege of displaying this artwork at CityArts in August of 2023. Please enjoy this new digital gallery, created by youth and mentors of youth in the Kansas foster care community.

"Nature Is All Around Us..." by Nyx "Nature is all around us and we should be more considerate of the world around us."

"Untitled by Lovinglee
"It shows the darkness in life but color can still be found all around us." — "Untitled by Lovinglee "It shows the darkness in life but color can still be found all around us."

"Colorless" by Nyx
"Although there is color all around me, the colorless part expresses how I feel
inside." — "Colorless" by Nyx "Although there is color all around me, the colorless part expresses how I feel inside."

"True Meaning (Front)" by Echo
"This semicolon bee is echoing
depression. The purple flower with red thorns is intriguing and appealing to the bee, however, the bee approaches it very cautiously knowing that one mishap with it's stinger can be fata — "True Meaning (Front)" by Echo "This semicolon bee is echoing depression. The purple flower with red thorns is intriguing and appealing to the bee, however, the bee approaches it very cautiously knowing that one mishap with it's stinger can be fatal to the bee."

"True Meaning (Back)" by Echo
"The eye, purple, with tears running
down as it watches the bee, creates meaning
for itself as it begins to tear. The absence of color echoes a visual represents the colorless and desolate feeling of depression." — "True Meaning (Back)" by Echo "The eye, purple, with tears running down as it watches the bee, creates meaning for itself as it begins to tear. The absence of color echoes a visual represents the colorless and desolate feeling of depression."

"True Anger" by Echo
"If you pay close attention to the grey
background, you will see playfulness and
curiosity. The handprints of red show anger.
When playfulness becomes too rowdy it can
create a spark of anger. The black stripe
makes the tran — "True Anger" by Echo "If you pay close attention to the grey background, you will see playfulness and curiosity. The handprints of red show anger. When playfulness becomes too rowdy it can create a spark of anger. The black stripe makes the transition from curiosity to madness. What to you experience when looking at this artwork?"

"Started as strangers...ended as friends" by Ellipsis

"Minion" by Little X "Made for my brother"

"Abstract Expression" by Echo "Does this painting speak to you? Listen closely.
What is saying to you?" — "Abstract Expression" by Echo "Does this painting speak to you? Listen closely. What is saying to you?"

"Flame of the Soul" by Echo "In this painting I see the blues representing the soul, blending with the purple, depicting the bruises and mistrakes in one's life. By closely observing the heart, the grey and black represents heartbreak and heart ache. This is my vision. What is yours?"

"Ellipsis...but there is more to your story" by Ellipsis

"For Family" by Little X "Made for my family"

Share your feedback!

What piece moved you? What’s something that you took away from this virtual art gallery?