Colorful banners are flying high in many elementary schools throughout the Los Angeles Archdiocese celebrating the end of the school year and many eighth grade graduations.These Banner Festivals wrap up a year of art projects being taught in these schools by Art Trek Inc., a not-for-profit arts program funded by the Porteous Family Foundation, and Art Trek 4 Teachers, funded in part by the Weingart Foundation and Nick and Patty Weber.Donors interested in supporting the arts in Catholic schools were guided by the Catholic Education Foundation to Art Trek. CEF and Art Trek have worked together since 2006.The Shibori Banners are made by folding and creasing paper towels, dipping them into dye and watching the magic happen as they are unfolded. Each student made two banners, one to take home to share with family, and the other made into long flowing banner garlands decorating the schools. Currently in 32 Catholic elementary schools, Art Trek (active since 1992 and established as a not-for-profit in 2006) is committed to serving high-risk programs, underserved and needy populations, senior programs, social service programs and educators in professional training workshops. Between May and June, some 25 Banner Festivals were scheduled in Catholic schools throughout the archdiocese, including Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Anthony Schools in Oxnard.{gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2013/0614/sbart/{/gallery}
