ST. LOUIS – St. Louis ArtWorks is excitedly preparing for one of the biggest days of the year - the Summer Sale! Seventy youth Apprentices between the ages of 14 and 18 have been working under Teaching Artists in disciplines including three-dimensional design, video and sound design, painting, and sculpture. In addition to their commissions in each discipline, the youth are creating individual works of art that will be available at the sale. Friends, family, and supporters of all ages are invited to this public celebration on Friday, July 21st from 11:00am to 2:00pm at St. Louis ArtWorks on 5959 Delmar Blvd. in the East Loop to view the incredible artwork the Apprentices have created.

“I’m looking forward to opening our doors and letting the community have a chance to see the high quality of work these super talented young artists have created this Summer in such a short period of time,” brags Shakira Onwuachi, Interim Program Manager.

In the BoomerRacks program, Apprentices have been busy creating a variety of small-scale sculptures that will be available for purchase including decorative garden ornaments, windchimes, plexiglass stenciling, wood burnings, coat racks, tie holders and towel racks made from upcycled bike parts. They have also created a commissioned bike rack for America’s Central Port, and models of the rack in fabrication will be on display. Apprentices in The Muralists group have been learning about painting, color and design through the creation of a mural for Turner Park which will be on display during the sale. The Apprentices will also be selling individual works in various styles including surreal, graffiti, and anime-inspired painting and prints. In the innovative Sight & Sound program, Apprentices are using video and sound design to create an immersive multimedia experience in the Emerson Media Lab. The project will feature abstract videos set to original music tracks created by the young artists. Apprentices in the three-dimensional design program called BloomWorks have been creating a commissioned sculpture to be installed near the Katy Trail that reflects the importance of preserving our natural watersheds. Apprentices are also building decorative Little Lending Libraries that will be available for purchase during the sale.

Attendees at the Summer Sale are welcome to tour the facility at St. Louis ArtWorks which is used not only for the Apprentice Program, but for fundraising events, private parties, and community engagements. Guests can also grab a bite to eat at the STL French Quarter Food Truck which will be parked on-site throughout lunch. For more information and to view their menu, visit www.stlfrenchquarter.com.

For those looking to apply for the Fall Apprentice Program, the application will be available online after July 15th at stlartworks.org/apply. Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 18, and live in St. Louis City or County.

Louis ArtWorks was founded in 1995 as a collaborative partnership with Grand Center Inc., the City of St. Louis, and the Regional Arts Commission. Since that time, ArtWorks has provided opportunities for thousands of young people, successfully helping to prepare them for future education and employment opportunities. ArtWorks bridges economic, racial and social divisions by providing underserved youth with arts education, workforce development training, and 21st century life skills, including fiscal literacy and professional communication. St. Louis ArtWorks is funded in part by the Arts and Education Council with support from the Regional Arts Commission. Funding for the Summer Program has been provided in part by America’s Central Port, the William A. Kerr Foundation, McCormack Baron Salazar, St. Louis Art Museum, and Missouri American Water.

For more information on St. Louis ArtWorks and its community partners, please visit ArtWorks online at Facebook and Twitter. #MakeArtWorkSTL