Aberswyth van Bueren. With a bachelor’s degree in Emerging Media and Digital Arts and a passion for music, novel writing, and illustration, Aber hopes to complete big, multidisciplinary projects that involve story and world-building. Aber’s involvement with ArtSeed as an elementary school student all the way to a high school student has impacted them in a positive way, connecting them with friends, colleagues, and foundations needed for their future endeavors as an artist. Aber gained skills by working with other people towards bigger causes by attending summer intensives, volunteering at the Art-a-Thon, and contributing to the ArtSeed Youth Council. Throughout college, they learned new skills within the digital realm and hope to apply this to their work with ArtSeed as this organization evolves to thrive not only in our physical world but also within the world of social media. https://www.liminaldimensions.com/
“ArtSeed has been one of the biggest inspirations in my life not only for the art it produces but for the greater causes that it works towards. I recall one year when I was a kid attending ArtSeed’s Fine Arts Summer Intensive when I came to the realization that art wasn’t about broken off sections such as music, writing, performance, and visual arts–there was a whole lot more connections between the disciplines. Not only that, but there were also so many connections between arts disciplines and things like the sciences or other “hard-lined” disciplines. Because of the inspiration I gathered from all the talented and deep-thinking people at ArtSeed, adults and kids alike, I composed a letter to the arts high school I went to at the time. It was a call to have the school’s art departments do more collaborations with each other. From then on, the multidisciplinary view greatly impacted my way of doing art. And it all ties back to the education ArtSeed has provided.” – Aber
Bailey Drenik is a graduating senior from Clayton Valley Charter High School (CVCHS). She grew up in the middle class and although they weren’t the richest family she was able to do art throughout her childhood with her parents’ loving support. She became a ‘jack of all trades’ learning to paint with acrylic, watercolor, gouache, and oil. She also uses pastels, colored pencils, markers, sculpture and even music. She has played percussion in the CA Music Education Association in 2016 and her participation was acknowledged with an award. She placed 3rd in the sculpture category at the CVCHS art expo in 2018 and has volunteered at her local karate school for the last 5 years as a part of a special team of role models, also known as the S.T.O.R.M. team. Bailey helps behind the front desk and teaches the younger students.
Berit Sandvig is an ArtSeed Intern with the University of San Francisco, in Art History and Arts Management with a minor in Fine Arts. She also assists with teaching, writing grant proposals and lesson plans. She is a San Francisco native who is highly concerned with the preservation of her precious, unique, and historical city. While she loves to make and be involved in art, Berit has more technical experience in arts management. She has led and facilitated the cataloguing and creation of online databases for art resources for both the Presidio Golf Course Club House as well as the San Francisco Historical Society. She also has curatorial experience, playing a crucial part in an exhibition entitled “Uncovered: Women and the Art of the Book” and other USF showings.
“My time at ArtSeed has been very eventful in the most wonderful of ways. I am constantly inspired by the passion that the ArtSeed community holds for their constituents and their community. There is a particular arsenal of happiness on hand with the people involved in ArtSeed’s events and activities. I, in particular, was very involved with the work that took place at the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center. I loved that there was always a fun learning dynamic and the students were eager to learn. Especially when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, ArtSeed was unfazed! I was completely amazed by the team’s bright spirits. This was such a vital opportunity to see that value of arts education and how it can make a difference in people’s lives. I cherish it!” – Berit
Betzabe Moreno González (Betzy) discovered her love for drawing by looking at some of her father’s sketches at the age of seven. She is a self-taught artist who works mainly in two mediums – acrylic and pencil drawing. In 2018 she took her first art class at the Cultural Institute of Aguascalientes where she learned oil, watercolors and encaustic techniques. Since then she has participated in two art exhibits – one by herself and the second a collective exhibit of eight other artists. She was very excited to participate and teach during ArtSeed’s Art-a-thon on April 25th. https://youtu.be/LS9n9wTouIM
“Participating in the ArtSeed’s art-a-ton was the most gratifying experience I’ve ever collaborated on. Teaching from a screen my drawing via zoom to share with others my love for drawing was a special memory I’ll always treasure in my life. Thank you ArtSeed for letting me to be part of the Art-a-ton 2020!” – Betzy
Dina Kharag is an after school chess teacher who has a passion for helping others. She graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in education from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She’s also an experienced volunteer for ArtSeed in helping prepare for the Art-a-Thon with art activities and the committee meetings. Outside of ArtSeed, Dina helps out at Benioff’s Children Hospital in Oakland and San Francisco Suicide Prevention to promote mental health and relaxation.
Jennifer Spencer, Office Manager. First a typesetter, then a legal secretary, Jennifer, a Taoist Tai Chi practitioner is a native San Franciscan who developed her career in Great Britain. She has happily been vital to ArtSeed’s contact relationship management system upgrades. Her exacting attention to detail is helping us to update our data and move to a more sophisticated and personable way of reaching out to our growing list of beloved constituents.
“Working in ArtSeed’s office, as well as helping out at ArtSeed’s Fine Arts Summer Intensives, is a fun way to enjoy the art made by such a talented group of artists of all ages. Being able to get out of the office and make my own art, assist with lessons, and develop a different kind of learning process has also broadened my mind. I have found that ArtSeed is an adventure. The artists and students are inspiring and uplifting to each other, as well as a delight to watch. I am glad that I have been able to make and cherish these wonderful memories.” – Jennifer
Saloni Sharma is a 16-year-old high school graduate and office administration trainee at Job Corps Center at Treasure Island San Francisco. She was born and raised in Nepal and immigrated to the US to live with her parents when she was 8 years old. She has been drawing and making art for as long as she can remember. Due to the transitions with new settings with a new culture and new guardians, art served as an outlet for self-expression, as well as a coping mechanism in the times where there was a lack of serenity. Being an artist apprentice at ArtSeed through The California Lawyers for The Arts has assisted her in acquiring the credence needed to fully grasp her capabilities as a young professional, wanting to create her own business, and ready to emancipate her into the corporate world and network with other professional individuals. ArtSeed’s benevolent community of artists and technicians provides helpful insights to make connections with art and the vulnerable aspects of her life. Her creations mostly consist of a mixture of surrealism and abstract works. She hopes her art will be an instrument for projecting peace and have her work stimulate the desire in others to create a positive difference in the world. https://www.powtoon.com/c/bFKJLffKUyH/2/m