1,000 Students Show Off Self-Portraits at Exhibit

From the walls and rafters, the paintings hung--1,000 self-portraits painted by elementary school students. The exhibit Tuesday was part of Arts Education Awareness Day at Inner-City Arts in downtown Los Angeles.

“Art is important to me because I can be bored and not have anything to do, and I could do art,” wrote Daniel Saldiver for the collection of the self-portraits, some of which will be made into a book and sent to President Clinton.

Founded in 1989, Inner-City Arts provides classes that have become part of the curriculum at 11 Los Angeles elementary schools. More than 8,000 students a year participate in drawing, ceramics, animation, music, dance and visual arts classes.

“Sometimes when they come to Inner-City Arts, the kids are sad or mad,” said Yeni Flores, an 11-year-old who attends San Pedro Street Elementary School. “But after they express their feelings here, they come out feeling better.”

Inner-City Arts development director Alisa Magnotta said she loves self-portraits.

“They capture the essence of who they are and where they are from. I want people to see these [self-portraits] and be able to look into the eyes of these children.”