This past fall, The Vanir Foundation in Memory of H. Frank Dominguez and Vanir Construction Management, Inc. extended an invitation to Mother of Sorrows students to create artwork for the walls of Vanir’s new LA office. Their only parameters were to use bright colors and to consider a theme of buildings, schools and city skylines.
Ms. Stevenson, Art Teacher and Art Club Moderator, responded to this invitation by encouraging members of the MOS Art Club to create design submissions to present to the Vanir Foundation. After reviewing the many great submissions, the Vanir Foundation selected two submissions: one from 5th grader Kristine and one from 7th grader Anrika. Vanir then provided the Art Club with four large canvases and a selection of paint, and sent our MOS artists on their way to complete their paintings.
Throughout November, December and January (even during Christmas break), Kristine and Anrika, along with fellow Art Club members 7th grader Marbella and 8th grader Valerie, worked to turn their small drawings into large paintings. Ms. Stevenson guided the students through the process and the coat after coat of paint.
When the paintings were complete, Vanir generously invited the four students – accompanied by Ms. Stevenson, Miss Villarreal and Miss Stacy – to deliver their pieces to Vanir’s LA office in Downtown. The MOS group made the trip on January 30.
Dorene Dominguez (Chairman of the Board of Vanir Construction Management, Inc. and Chairman of the Board of The Vanir Foundation), Sam Yu (Area Manager/Associate of the Vanir Los Angeles office), Mayra Salazar (Director of Programs and Development for The Vanir Foundation) and the entire Vanir LA office welcomed the MOS group. Vanir team members provided the chance for students to present their pieces, to discuss what inspired their art, and to explain their artistic process. The Vanir team also shared encouragement for the students to pursue their education and their dreams, and explained to the students the type of projects Vanir does in the construction management field.
The generous Vanir hosts topped the afternoon off with a reception complete with treats and the chance for our students to write on and decorate their office wall (which is covered in dry-erase paint). This was, of course, a hit with all of our students.
Mother of Sorrows sends a big thank you to Dorene Dominguez, Sam Yu, Mayra Salazar and everyone at Vanir LA office for providing such a wonderful opportunity for learning and creativity for our students. Vanir’s unending support for our children never ceases to amaze and inspire us!
We congratulate Kristine, Anrika, Marbella and Valerie for their commitment to their artwork and to a job well done. We also send a big thank you to Ms. Stevenson for sharing her passion and knowledge of art to guide our four artists throughout the creation of their beautiful pieces.
You may view the exciting process and the students’ visit to the Vanir LA office in the photos below.
