FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Conference & Dedication to Mark Completion of Gomes School Community Mural

NEW BEDFORD, MA:
Muralist Charles Sorrento and members of ArtWorks! Teen Mural Crew have placed the final touches on a community mural at the Alfred J. Gomes School in the south end of New Bedford. ArtWorks! is proud to have completed this project as a partner in the H.O.P.E. Collaborative and invites the community to a brief press conference and mural dedication on June 21, at1 pm at the school. Irene Buck and Deirdre Lopes, the Executive Directors of ArtWorks! and the H.O.P.E. Collaborative respectively, will be on hand along with the muralist, teens, and city and school officials to mark the completion and dedicate the community mural.

"It's been wonderful to watch the teens engage in the community mural process from the planning stages to its completion," said Irene Buck. "We appreciate the support of the New Bedford Public Schools and Gomes School principal Martha Kay, and the assistance of the City of New Bedford. We thank the South First / South Central Neighborhood Association and the parents, teachers and students who participated in the process."

Located on a wall at the southern end of the school complex across from a new playground and visible by traffic going north on Route 18, the Gomes School Community Mural was created as part ArtWorks!
Teen Mural Program with funding from the H.O.P.E. Collaborative and the Bank of America Foundation.

An initial design by New Bedford high school student India Russel was collaboratively revised and presented to the community in a Design Review meeting at the end of April. Work started on the wall in May and progressed steadily on the weekends as weather permitted.

"I love that the teens came up with the idea and design for the mural and related it to things that were important to them," said muralist Charles Sorrento. "When people look at it, everyone finds something different in it that they like. For example, a 5th grade boy came in early to school and couldn't get into the building. He hung out with me as I was putting on the final protective coat. He was born in Portugal and loves playing soccer. The best part of the mural for him was the soccer ball!"

The Gomes School Community Mural is the third mural to be created by ArtWorks! Teen Mural Crew as a part of the Teen Art-At-Work program. The free teen development and art program continues in 2007-08 with another mural site to be identified for this summer and creative art workshops and projects planned for the fall and winter.

About the Muralist:
Charles Sorrento has dedicated his life to the pursuit of perfecting his craft. A painter in the New England tradition of the "Boston" school, his work reflects a realistic approach to his surroundings and experiences. An art teacher since l976 and, and a football coach since l964, Mr. Sorrento has a long career working with youth. As an artist, he is interested in landscape, seascape, and the human figure in action. He is recently retired from teaching and pursuing his art fulltime.

About the H.O.P.E. Collaborative:
The H.O.P.E. Collaborative is a network of community-based organizations, faith-based agencies, service agencies, and community members dedicated to building and sustaining safe, productive and peaceful communities. The Collaborative intends to develop and implement strategies, programs and public policies that will address the root causes of violence in our communities and promote peace, social justice and equity. Using a comprehensive systems approach to change, the collaborative will work with the stakeholders at all levels of city and community life. For more information contact Executive Director, Deirdre Lopes at 508-979-1557.

About ArtWorks!
ArtWorks! is a non-profit community arts center whose goal is to create an accessible environment which promotes participation for all in the arts through exhibits, education and collaboration with the diverse cultural groups of our area.

Our three galleries are filled with exhibits that change every six to eight weeks, and gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 12 Noon - 5 PM and until 9 PM on AHA! Nights (second Thursday of every month). ArtWorks! is located at 384 Acushnet Avenue, in downtown historic New Bedford. For more information, please visit www.artworksforyou.org or call 508-984-1588.