Date: Fri 29-Aug-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Youth-Services-mural-NYS

Full Text:

Young Muralists Complete Work At NYS

(with photos)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

The halls and walls of Newtown Youth Services were filled with young artists

and their work this summer.

Talented young people from the community spent days painting murals depicting

youth and their activities in the halls and stairwell at the NYS offices in

the Newtown Congregational Church House, 41-A Main Street. They were honored

for their work at a reception Monday night at the NYS office.

Among those who supported the project were the church trustees, the NYS Board

of Directors and Dick Blick Art Materials.

The mural in the stairwell, "The Four Seasons," was painted by Sarah Stokes,

Liz Kotecki, Karen Earle, Beth English, Amy Barackman and Melanie Murphy. As

visitors climb the stairs they pass by winter, depicted by a hibernating bear

dreaming of a spring feast; spring, with turtles hatching; summer, in cool

blue water, and autumn, with horseback riding and fall foliage.

At the top of the stairs, Kristin Jeffe, NYS Job Bank coordinator and

co-chairperson of Newtown Youth Creating AIDS Awareness For Peers (NYCAAP),

has painted "Welcome to Newtown Youth Services."

As visitors turn and walk down the hall, the first mural on the right, of a

seated figure, was painted by Adam Samuels. A little farther down on the

right, a handstanding figure, is the work of Amel Samuels. Across the hall

from it is a mural by Nick Doniger showing some icons of today's youth.

On the same wall is a large sun with small figures wearing AIDS ribbons; this

mural was created by NYCAAP and was painted by Lisa Rodriguez, Marisa

Burnham-Bestor, Katie Doyle, Jessica Hoffman, Kristin Jeffe, Debra Ravetto and

Katie Hayes.

A mural above the bulletin board, "If you have faith, all that you dream for

will come true," was painted by Melinda Langyel. Around the corner is a mural

by Ryan Miller with the inscription, "Before you judge me, try hard to love

me; Look within your heart and then ask have you seen my childhood." Next to

this is a clown painted by Mike Patrick, who also painted stars on an adjacent

wall.

Jane Todorski, NYS assistant director, thanked the artists for "their courage

and spirit in creating artwork for the community to enjoy, as well as for

their dedication in donating their time in order to come and paint indoors on

beautiful summer days."