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“ASPIRE!  Black Teen Artists’ Interpretations of Success” comes to the Richmond Main Street Initiative in Richmond from November 2 through November 30, 2007.  Talented teen artists from the Bay Area present artwork and stories on success.   

Alongside each artist’s piece is the artist’s statement on success.  They communicate through art and words their dreams and fears; their motivations and obstacles.

The show exhibited at the San Francisco Main Public Library earlier this year.  That show included over 20 teens from Richmond, Oakland and San Francisco.  At the requests of some Richmond parents, the Richmond show has been brought to Richmond.  The Richmond show will have different artists.

“My nephew gave me the concept, even the title,” says curator Kheven LaGrone.  “One night, we were debating art and social change in Black San Francisco.” 

LaGrone believes dreams are the seeds of success.  LaGrone also believes teen years are for dreaming and decision-making.  His nephew, Jarrel Phillips, a Black teen artist from San Francisco, thinks differently. Phillips argues “that teenagers today have given up hope and many have stopped trying—even stopped thinking about success.”

“Nowadays, we think success is not an option,” says Phillips.  He especially wanted to keep the theme and title “ASPIRE!,” arguing “Now we see somebody thinking about success—so we think about success.  It’s okay to hope.  It’s okay to be optimistic.”

Phillips believes the show can have an impact.  “By doing artwork, the Black teen artists think about success.  Maybe they’ll give other kids the idea of success and give them hope.”

Kheven LaGrone, a San Francisco-born artist/writer, was curator of the art show “Black Artists’ Expressions of Father,” held at the San Francisco Main Public Library and Richmond Main Street Initiative in the spring of 2006.  He was also the curator of “BABA:  Black Artists’ Expressions of Father” at the International Fatherhood Conference in June 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia.

ASPIRE!  Black Teen Artists’ Interpretations of Success

When:                  November 2 through November 30, 2007

Where:                 Richmond Main Street Initiative. 1000 Macdonald Avenue, Suite C, Richmond, California  94801

Opening/Reception:  Friday, November 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.    The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Amanda Elliot at (510) 236-4049 or curator, Kheven LaGrone at kheven@aol.com