HUNTINGTON BEACH : Young Artists Out to Change the Country

Young artist Laura Jordan says there is too much stress in people’s lives today, so she created a sculpture that reflects a stress-free country.

“There are no problems, no worries, and everybody is happy,” said Jordan, 17, of her ideal country.

Shawn Wiedrick, also 17, fashioned a clay sculpture, depicting a Native American man, a globe of the Earth and an eagle. His artwork symbolizes a culture that didn’t destroy the land and lived in harmony with nature, he said.

These two Huntington Beach High School artists were among 14 students who used their imaginations to make artworks for an opening exhibit in Gallery 3 at the new Huntington Beach Art Center.

The center will open March 25 with exhibits in two other galleries as well.

Under the guidance of artist Daniel J. Martinez, students participated in a workshop the past two weeks to create works for the exhibit, themed “How to Start Your Own Country.” The works reflect their interpretation of political and social issues.

The students’ incorporated a variety of mixed media using traditional materials, as well as non-traditional materials such as toy parts, floodlights and fabric remnants.

The exhibit will inaugurate Gallery 3, the Art Center’s education gallery that focuses on artists working in the community and artists who work in uniquely collaborative and interpretive processes, said Tyler Stallings, the center’s education director.

“One of the goals of the education gallery is about making artwork and artists’ processes accessible to the viewer,” Stallings said.

The gallery will showcase six to eight exhibits a year, changing every six weeks, he said.

Martinez, a UC Irvine fine arts professor who has conducted many high school workshops, said there are various educational benefits for the students who participate in such a setting.

“People will see the beautiful work that is very energizing, and they’ll be surprised it’s high school work,” Martinez said.

Students agreed that being involved in creating the exhibit was a rare opportunity.

“It’s a chance to show people what I can do,” said Michelle Scrimpsher, 17. “If one person says, ‘That’s really neat,’ that’s worth it to me.”