Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Robert Philyaw, Court Clerk Gary Behler, Magistrates, and staff gathered in the courthouse lobby for dedication and display of artwork made by youth in the detention center.
Three mosaic-style canvases were presented to the Court by artist Olga de Klein and her colleagues. Each canvas includes small, colorful pieces that were taken with permission from individual original artwork over the past few years.
Ms. de Klein teaches weekly art classes in the juvenile detention center – a program that began in 2014. Since then, hundreds of Hamilton County youth have had opportunities to learn how to draw/sketch, paint, do photography, write poetry, and more during the time they are detained.
Creating art provides the adolescent an outlet for personal expression and connection. The program has had great interest and positive reaction from the center’s residents, and the Court’s leadership acknowledges and appreciates its important impact, said officials.