This year’s 2nd Celia Center Arts Festival features the works of artists who use their creativity to express their experiences as individuals who were adopted and/or in foster care across many mediums. Entitled “Adopting Resilience, Fostering the Spirit of Creativity: The Voices of the Fostered and Adopted” the festival will feature stories and backgrounds of many, and seeks to bring together the voices that are often left out of the conversation on foster care and adoption. The Festival gives the Foster Care and Adopted a spotlight with the hopes of deepening the foster care and adoption conversation in Los Angeles and worldwide.
ARTIST SUBMISSIONS STILL IN PROGRESS, THIS SCHEDULE IS STILL IN PROGRESS.
Art Exhibit
FRIDAY, APRIL 12th
6:00pm – 8:00pm | Artist’s Opening Wine ReceptionJoin us in the EXHIBIT AREA
Admission is FREE
SATURDAY, APRIL 13th
12:00pm – 8:00pm | Adopting Resilience, Fostering the Spirit of Creativity:The Voices of the Fostered and AdoptedJoin us in the EXHIBIT AREA
Admission is FREE
SATURDAY, APRIL 13th
12:00pm – 2:00pm | Face Painting & Glitter Tattoo ages 3 and up
12:00pm – 3:00pm | Google Paint Virtual Reality Booth ages 10 and up
12:00 – 3:00pm | Healing Arts Table for Children in Foster Care and/or Adoption and their Families ages 4 and up. FREE ART
Join us in the ART EXHIBIT AREA
Admission is FREE
1 pm | Celebrity Book Reading with Foster Youth & Adoptee, Steven Benedict, Professional Athlete
As a professional track and field athlete and Olympic Trials Qualifier, Steven Benedict has run in some of the worlds most prestigious events. In addition to the Adidas Classic Diamond League and US Nationals, he ran for Nike for 2 years and was a Penn Relays Champion. Featured in 50 national and international magazines such as Train, ESPN Magazine, Mens Fitness, Mens Health and Fitness RX, Steven has expertise and contributions that extend. far beyond the track.
Steven’s childhood began in an abusive home which resulted in he and his brothers placement in foster care. Over the course of his first 8 years, he was moved between homes and motels with little certainty of what the next day would bring. At age 8, he and his brother were adopted by an incredible couple which possessed traits of joy, humility, sacrifice and unconditional love.
Join us in the THEATRE
Admission is FREE
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Healing Arts
Workshops
SATURDAY, APRIL 13th
4:00-5:30pm | – HEALING THROUGH WRITING THE UNSAID WORKSHOP
Writing and expression workshop with the intent to empower and validate our experiences as adopted people and foster alum!
Admission is $20 general/$15 student/seniorsPURCHASE TICKETS HERE
After Our Voices: A Reading and Discussion with Adoptees of Color hosted in 2017, Healing Through Writing the Unsaid was formed. Our voices matter yet are often silenced by adoption and the foster system and sometimes this occurs within our own adoptive families. Through writing & discussion, we’ll reflect on our journeys as adoptees and foster alum and how we navigate our identities. You’ll have the opportunity to share your writing with others in the workshop if you so choose (sharing is optional).
Who: Anyone who identifies as an adoptee/adopted person or foster alum, no writing experience necessary (18 yrs. and older)
Bring: your own writing materials – paper, notebook, journal and pens, pencils, and/or laptop.
Facilitator – Julayne Lee is an overseas adopted Korean American poet, essayist, artivist, art curator and producer. Her debut collection of poems Not My White Savior (2018, Rare Bird) was on BookTrib’s list A Year of Memories: 15 New Memoirs We Can’t Wait to Read This Year and Bitch Media’s Bitchreads: 15 Books Feminists Should Read in March. Not My White Savior was included in the 2018 Poets House Showcase in New York, their 26th annual exhibition of the nation’s poetry books and was also on Entropy’s Best of 2018: Best Poetry Books & Poetry Collections. She’s curated readings and hosted writing workshops for adopted people of color across the country. Co-founder of Adoptee Solidarity Korea – Los Angeles (ASK-LA), she also volunteered with the Adoptee Rights Campaign (ARC) to ensure citizenship for all adoptees. Julayne has read and spoken on adoption at universities and symposiums throughout the U.S. & Korea and has an MAEd from Hamline University.
Artists Panel
Saturday, April 13th
6:30 – 7:30pm | Artists Panel, Sharing their Vision, Transforming their Pain
A panel of exhibited artists will share their journey behind their art, and the transformation the healing arts have brought to their life. Moderated by Rebecca Trawick.
Join us in the THEATRE
Admission is FREE
Performances
Friday, April 12th & Saturday, April 13th
8:00pm | VOICES ECHO FROM THE PAST TO PRESENT
Admission is $20 general/$15 for seniors/students. Ages 14+ maturity.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
A compilation of narratives, poetry, spoken word, and theater pieces expressed by the voices of the fostered and adopted!
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Susan Harris O’Connor, Transracial Adoptee presents “The Harris Narratives.“
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Rock Wilk, Adoptee, presents his latest one man performance from “The Book of Judith.“
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Julayne Lee, Korean Adoptee, presents poems from “Not My White Savior” with special performances by Adoptees, Kayla Tange and Mercury Troy.
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Jeanette Yoffe, Adoptee & Foster Youth, presents a one woman performance of growing up in foster care from “What’s Your Name, Who’s Your Daddy?“
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Jerri Allyn, First Mother, presents “Shades of Shame” with special performance by Adoptee, Kayla Tange.
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Julia Miller-Dunnett, Adoptee & Foster Youth, will sing “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert.