Middle School Students Speak Their Minds:

Inside Out Community Arts will present its Winter 2006 show – “What’s On Our Minds?” – on Saturday, January 28. Created and performed by the Westside middle school students in Inside Out’s Fall 2005 Neighborhood Arts Project, “What’s On Our Minds?” includes two original short plays, artwork and a photo journal exhibit. In each Inside Out session, the participants choose issues that affect their lives and the world to write about. In the fall session, one group examined teen suicide via an exploration of life’s beauty and pain. The other group focused on war and a plea for peace. In creating these original works, the students employed both traditional and alternative techniques. The Neighborhood Arts Project program is taught by professional artists, and offered at no charge by Inside Out to Venice and other Westside middle-school students. The evening will also include original dance and music performances by local students. A potluck dessert reception with the young performers, their families and the community will follow the show. “What’s on Our Minds?” will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Venice Center for Peace with Justice and the Arts, 2210 Lincoln Boulevard. Admission is free. Guests are asked to bring a dessert to the reception.