Stardust Arts Canvas to Travel to Italy with the Art Miles Mural Project

The Stardust Arts has recently added a wonderful element into the youth Art program.  Excited to have a new art instructor to work with the “Angels Program”, students are going to be provided an experience that will provide a lifetime impression involving the world of art. They will explore and reach farther than they ever expected.

One might say that the stars were aligned the day that Joanne Tawfilis co-founder of Art Miles Mural Project accepted a position with Stardust Arts. A dynamic force, Tawfilis facilitates and leads projects bringing people together through the arts.  She has been involved in the creation of over 4,000 murals painted on canvas in over 125 countries with over ½ million people.  And as a veracious volunteer she was recently appointed by the Secretary of State to be the United States National Commission of UNESCO that serves as a Federal Advisory Committee to the U.S. Government.

Tawfilis will be instructing the Stardust artists at Garrison Elementary School in Oceanside, CA. which is the only accredited visual/performing arts school in the Oceanside Unified School District.  The school is excited to have the students involved in an adventure like no other.  Tawfilis will be assisting the students in creating a “Fairy Tale” themed art project that will be shared with young students in a school in Narnia, Umbria,, Italy.  The first half of the artwork will be created in Oceanside and the other half will be completed by the young students in Narnia. Together, students will complete a 5 foot by 12 foot canvas.  The canvas will be returned to Garrison Elementary, completed in 2013 and will be housed at the school for exhibitions and used in promotions for the community.

Many of the murals have also been showcased in a variety of exhibitions, galleries, museums, and public buildings, including the American Museum of Natural History and at Ground Zero in New York City. This project, based on it’s overwhelming popularity, has also become the premiere activity for major conferences ranging from the International Children’s Environmental Health Conference in Washington, DC, National Network for Youth Conferences, and the United Nations Environment Program International Children’s Conference on the Environment, the USA Environmental Protection Agency and other organizations.
 
“This is an exciting adventure for the Stardust students and energy is running high with anticipation for the canvas to get started. It is fantastic to give the students the opportunity to broaden their horizons and learn the long reach of art and its value in everyone’s lives.” Ehlers stated. I am honored to have Joanne as a part my program and can’t wait to see the results.  We are both energetic art advocates for youth, and the communities we travel too, what better way to begin the New Year by sharing art worldwide, together”.
 
Since 2009 Stardust has reached out to over 6200 young students in grades 1-5 in over 24 schools and has produced over 13,200 pieces of artwork that have covered the walls of homes, schools, charities and local business.  The students have flourished and learned the just how enriching the power of art can be. Ehlers advises students, “To not be afraid to explore yourself or be concerned what others think.” She stresses the importance of creating confidence first and talent second, in order that students feel empowered to succeed.
 
Supported by parents, schools, local Carlsbad business, and in part by the City of Encinitas and the Mizel Family Foundation along with recognition by the California State Assembly, and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has ingratiated Ehlers with a position on the Fine Art Advisory Committee for TERi Inc. organization in Oceanside, CA.  An organization that believes every individual with autism and other developmental and learning disabilities has the right to lead a valued, meaningful, and fulfilling life of uncompromised quality in their community.
 
“We are proud to be arts advocate and align ourselves with individuals that have a common purpose in life and are on the same page of music with art”, stated Ehlers and Tawfilis. What a great year it is going to be.
 
Visit the Art Miles Mural Project, at  www.artmiles.org. Stardust is a nonprofit organization, joint ventured with Dr. Wilderness Show a 501 3 (c)# 93-1217634. Donations are tax deductible. If you’re interested in participating in the programs please contact Cheryl Ehlers at The Stardust Arts, www.thestardustarts.com or call 760-519-1551.