In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, Open Space commissioned a number of new posts from artists and writers. As part of the series, we asked Aimee Shapiro, Artists-in-Education program manager at Southern Exposure, to work with two artists from SoEx’s Artists-in-Education program. Both youth artists are members of SoEx’s Youth Advisory Board, and will be participants in this year’s Mission Voices Summer program. We’re very pleased to welcome Nora Ortiz.

Nora Ortiz, Untitled, 2012. Click for larger view.

The bridge creates a balance between the real world and the dream world. The real world is full of global warming and is black, gray, and white. The dream world is green, full of soft colors and worry-free. The river signifies a flowing connection between the two worlds.

Nora Ortiz is a sophomore at Thurgood Marshall High School. She loved art before she even knew what “art” meant and is passionate about how we can transfer our emotions into art. She is finishing her second semester in the Artists-in-Education programs at SoEx.

Southern Exposure (SoEx) is an artist-centered nonprofit organization that is committed to supporting visual artists. Through its extensive and innovative programming, SoEx strives to experiment, collaborate, and further educate while providing an extraordinary resource center and forum for Bay Area and national artists in its Mission district space and offsite, in the public realm. An active presence in the Bay Area since 1974, SoEx is continually evolving in response to the needs of artists and the community while engaging the public in artists’ work. Central to its mission is to remain the most accessible space for visual artists to produce and present new work, learn, and connect. SoEx provides visual artists with the tools and resources they need to experiment in an open and supportive environment. It also works to advocate to new, diverse audiences and build an ever-growing community of enthusiasts and supporters of the visual arts.

About Southern Exposure’s Artists-in-Education (AIE) Program: This nationally recognized program brings together diverse youth, artists, schools, and community organizations in a dynamic series of innovative programs. AIE offers youth opportunities to learn critical, artistic, vocational, and cultural experiences beyond the traditional school environment. Southern Exposure works with 150 14-to-21-year-olds through year-round after-school and summer programs.