 St. Joe's and MCAD Create Art Gallery
Gold and silver picture frames cover a purple wall, original artwork rotates in and out regularly, and bright graffiti letters spell out “Welcome to Eldred.” This art gallery greets visitors as they enter Eldred Hall, St. Joe’s emergency shelter for girls age 12-17.
Before a class from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design stepped in, the shelter’s lounge felt cold and industrial. The 15 MCAD "Art in Community" students helped Eldred’s residents envision an inspirational and relaxed mood for the space. Together they transformed a gray wall into an art gallery. In four visits, the students and residents collaborated on collages and paintings to fill old picture frames painted gold and silver.
 The different-sized frames create a salon-style wall, said MCAD Professor Elissa Cedarleaf Dahl, adding that the temporary pieces can be taken with the youth when they leave the shelter. New residents can rotate their pieces in when they arrive, helping them build a sense of community.
“However you can support them creatively during this time of transition is beneficial,” Cedarleaf Dahl said. “We sat down with them to create art together. It allowed us to experiment with art a little bit, and we made some relationships.”
Learn more about St. Joseph's Home for Children, an emergency shelter and therapeutic treatment center for children. View volunteer opportunities.
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