See It To Be It Youth Arts Organization Presents "Through Our Eyes" at Twenty Miles East Gallery in Pomona, California

Pomona, CA, February 04, 2011 --(PR.com)-- “Through Our Eyes” a group show featuring the art of Masoud, 8 years old; Coatl, 8 years old; Peter-Cole, 9 years old; Mina, 10 years old; Akua 12 years old ; David, 13 years old; Cody, 14 years old; Shawnee, 16 years old; and Lauren, 16 years old will be on exhibit from February 12 through February 26, 2011.

Photographs that depict the artist’s life through his/her own eyes will adorn the walls of Twenty Miles East Gallery, 558-A West Second Street in Pomona, California, as framed and matted prints, greeting cards and post card prints for sale to support the non profit youth arts organization. “We travel. We shoot. We sell. So we can travel, shoot and sell.” See It To Be It youth arts founder John Lee explained. “The sell of our art is the major financial support of our organization. It allows the kids to travel, do art projects, purchase cameras, and visit museums and galleries. For every piece that sells, the non-profit organization gets 50% and the artist gets 50%.”

The artists began working on “Through Our Eyes” in December of 2010. Fine art photographer John Lee presented lessons on capturing everyday life through your unique perspective. The artists blossomed quickly producing a variety of portraits, urban/street photography, and landscape photography.

This is See It To Be It’s first art show; for most of the young artists, this is the first time their art will be exhibited to the public. Other shows will follow. Organization founders John and Mia Lee are making plans to show “Through Our Eyes” at businesses and galleries throughout southern California. “Their work is amazing,” Mia said of the artists’ pieces for the upcoming show. “The more exposure they can get, the better. We’re looking for coffee houses, bookstores, galleries, restaurants where they can exhibit and sell their artwork. We’re planning a trip to San Francisco this summer. These art shows are going to get us there.”

See It To Be It was born out of the plight of budget cuts in the public school system. With many of the school districts running on the bare minimums, art supplies, art programs and art teachers were downsized or cut completely. Realizing the impact that art has on young lives, John and Mia began to formulate a plan to enrich the youth of the community through art.

The program is simple: Expose. Enrich. Encourage. Repeat.

In the expose stage the youth are introduced to different art forms and media. They travel and experience new cultures. Then, during the enrich stage, the youth are taught the craft of photography and other artists come in to teach one to two day workshops on oil painting, sculpture, water color and more. The art shows and exhibits are when the community steps in to encourage the young artists. Receiving accolades for what they have created with their minds and the hands, they youth beam with pride at the purchase of a five dollar greeting card that bears their art. With the funds generated through the sell of their art, the young artists are equipped to travel even further, learn more, and create again.

“Saturday, February 12, the community is invited to take part in the See It To Be It Program. Come out and meet the artists. Purchase a print. Support the arts and encourage the youth.” – Mia Lee

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