Ryman Arts' 2010 Graduates Showcase Artwork at California African American Museum

LOS ANGELES, June 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Sixth Annual Ryman Arts Student Art Exhibition is hosted by and now on display at the California African American Museum (CAAM) in Exposition Park. The Exhibition, which features more than 200 of the Ryman Arts students' best works from the 2009-2010 school year, showcases the art of the talented young artists, who take part in Ryman Arts' intense training program. The exhibition will be on view through July 6, 2010.

"The Annual Exhibition reflects the depth of Ryman Arts' training and the breadth of the students' potential," notes Diane Brigham, Executive Director of Ryman Arts. "The opportunity to have their best work displayed in public serves both as a tremendous learning experience and an exciting milestone for our students."

Brigham attributes the success of Ryman Arts' students to the program's philosophy of "nurturing talent, inspiring growth and changing lives," as well as to the passion and perseverance of the students themselves, who come from all over Southern California—from the Los Angeles urban core, to the outlying Orange and Los Angeles county suburbs—to attend Ryman Arts' classes for 3 1/2 hours every Saturday.

Citing the students' tremendous talent and motivation, Brigham says, "These teens demonstrate remarkable focus, creativity and tenacity in honing their skills through the program, making them highly desirable to art schools and universities. Significantly, in a region where so few high school graduates successfully pursue higher education, 98 percent of Ryman Arts' alumni go on to college, and the majority are the first in their family to pursue a higher education."

Brigham added that by nurturing young artists in developing their creative gifts, Ryman Arts helps ensure growth of the arts, as well as a sustainable cultural future and healthy economy for Southern California. Many Ryman Arts students go on to employment in art careers including graphic design, architecture, film, animation, fashion and environmental design.

"Each year we look forward to being as proud of the Ryman Arts students as we would be if we had trained them ourselves," says Charmaine Jefferson, Executive Director of the California African American Museum.  "For CAAM this is more than just a gesture.  It is our chance to give back and support Ryman Arts, as a neighboring organization that we not only adore, but respect because they put their souls into nurturing and giving these students the best artistic training possible.  CAAM in turn provides the space and patrons, and the opportunity for the students to experience curating and shaping a museum exhibition for their work and that of their peers.  It's an invaluable collaboration, and we couldn't be more privileged to have the work of these talented and budding young artists presented in our galleries."

The California African American Museum is located at 600 State Drive, in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA  90037. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm Parking is located at 39th & Figueroa Streets - $8.00 per vehicle. CAAM is a California State Museum as declared by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Admission to the Museum is free and open to the public.

About Ryman Arts

Ryman Arts provides gifted teens the opportunity to reach their artistic potential through free high-level arts education in a rigorous studio environment. In addition to artistic training, Ryman Arts students also 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, 80 percent of who reside in low-income communities and have no other opportunities to develop their artistic gifts.

The program began in 1990 to honor the memory of legendary Disney artist and mentor Herbert D. Ryman to encourage young artists to reach their potential. 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. Ryman Arts aims to inspire, nurture, and challenge the next generation of artists to reach their potential.

SOURCE Ryman Arts