First Big Draw LA: Month-Long Celebration of Drawing in Full Swing Citywide

Ryman Arts Invites Angelenos to "Make Your Mark in the Park"

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The inaugural The Big Draw LA—a citywide celebration of drawing throughout October—is currently underway, offering opportunities for people of all ages to discover that drawing enhances how they see, think and invent. The Big Draw LA, inspired by the highly popular United Kingdom program launched in 2000, is the first event of its kind on the West Coast. The Big Draw LA is presented by Ryman Arts, an arts education program that fosters the education of gifted young artists in Southern California.

"Drawing is a universal language that connects generations, cultures and communities," says Diane Brigham, Executive Director of Ryman Arts. "While children typically embrace drawing as a means of self-expression, many adults claim they can't draw. The Big Draw LA seeks to eliminate those barriers by engaging Angelenos who love to draw—and those who think they can't—to embrace the joy of creative expression."

In addition to the Ryman Arts' event, other LA organizations participating with their own Big Draw LA activities include: The Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens; Fowler Museum at UCLA; California African American Museum; Los Feliz Library and Corita Art Center; Drink and Draw Social Club; Ortega High School; Skirball Cultural Center; Pico Improvement Organization Pico Festival; the Pilgrim School; J. Paul Getty Museum; ADC Contemporary Art Gallery; Arts in Education Aid Council; Atwater Village Art Center; Carpenter Community Charter School; John Muir High School; and The GRAMMY Museum®.

Make Your Mark in the Park on October 17

The Ryman Arts' Big Draw LA event, "Make Your Mark in the Park," takes place Sunday, October 17 at 1 p.m. in Exposition Park, in collaboration with Exposition Park, the museums in the park and the EXPO Center, a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks facility. Ryman Arts' students and teaching artists will help the public create a continuous, 1/2 mile long- drawing on paper that rolls out and winds its way around the park, beginning at the California African American Museum, through the Rose Garden and past the Spider Pavilion of the Natural History Museum. The continuous drawing project will be photographed and ultimately be showcased as a "scrolling panorama" online.

According to Brigham, the Big Draw LA received a $50,000 grant from The James Irvine Foundation to help facilitate this series of inclusive, highly participatory public drawing experiences across Los Angeles.

The Big Draw LA is committed to promoting inclusiveness and offering a diversity of drawing experiences. Presenting organizations can still register events open to the public on-line at www.thebigdrawla.org. Following The Big Draw LA, presenting organizations may apply for one of several special awards that honor outstanding The Big Draw LA activities, big and small.

About The Big Draw and The Campaign for Drawing

The Big Draw was started by the Guild of St. George, a nonprofit organization founded by 19th century critic and educator John Ruskin. Now led by the Campaign for Drawing in London, the aim is to raise awareness of drawing's power as a tool for learning, observation, creativity, and social and cultural engagement. In 2009, more than 1,300 Big Draw events took place across the United Kingdom and internationally.

About Ryman Arts

Ryman Arts provides gifted teens the opportunity to reach their artistic potential through free high-level art education in a rigorous and nurturing studio environment. In addition to artistic training, Ryman Arts students build self-discipline and confidence, and receive college and career guidance that helps position them for success in their careers and lives. Ryman Arts currently teaches talented high school students from more than 200 schools in Southern California.

The program began in 1990 to honor the memory of legendary Disney artist and mentor Herbert D. Ryman. The core program includes sequential studio courses that emphasize advanced drawing and painting skills. Courses, taught by professional teaching artists, foster students' artistic development and provide the knowledge they need to pursue higher education and careers in the arts.

Photos available upon request.

SOURCE Ryman Arts