Downtown Aurora Visual Arts

For those of you unable to join us on October 17th for the offsite tour of DAVA, you missed out!  What an inspirational organization and something we need more of!  DAVA is the Downtown Aurora Visual Arts center.  They have recently undergone some renovations and the facility is now larger and more capable of serving more of Aurora's youth and families.  DAVA also takes full advantage of our RYLA program.  We have 4 RYLA graduates greet us and speak with us both about their experiences with RYLA and their roles with DAVA.  In addition to encouraging creativity and personal expression, DAVA really works with youth to develop the skills they'll need in the future such as personal responsibility, community impact, commitment, attendance and being on time.  DAVA does a couple of gallery shows every year.  The current gallery theme is transportation.  They also will be doing a holiday show and boutique - you'll definitely want to include DAVA in your holiday shopping!  DAVA has been selected to decorate the Christmas Tree at the White House.  Each group was working hard at getting their ornaments ready for their journey to Washington DC.  Each group was taking on a different theme that represents Colorado.  Should be a pretty spectacular tree!

 

 

DAVA is funded through the Special Arts District funding and grants.  The program is free to students, but they do have to go through an application process to be accepted.  The sky is the limit with creativity!  Kids have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of mediums from computer graphics to robotics to plastics to recyclables to fiber to pen and ink.  We had a great time exploring the various rooms and seeing examples of all the different projects completed and in progress.  Within the transportation show in the primary gallery, DAVA students had built 2 types of shelters that could be used by someone who is homeless.  They put much effort into finding materials that were light weight and could be moved easily, but were also heat tolerant and a protection from weather.  One even included 'mood' lighting!  This was a great event and I'm sure we all look forward to great things coming from DAVA and great things for youth that get to be a part of this organization.