Press Releases
GIRLS’ PROGRAM SPONSORS ART
EXPO
May 14, 2004 - St. Joseph Health
System–Sonoma County’s (SJHS-SC) Circle of Sisters
Program is presenting its first-ever art exhibit on
Friday, May 21, from 6 - 8 p.m., in the multi-use room
of Mountain Shadows Middle School, located at 7165
Burton Avenue in Rohnert Park.
The “Art Expo 2004 – Circle of
Sisters and Me” exhibit will feature the selected works
of up to 70 Circle of Sisters participants from
throughout Sonoma County. The artwork was inspired by
the wide range of themes the girls have explored during
their twice-weekly Circle of Sisters meetings since
September. Those topics include self-esteem, conflict
resolution, peer pressure, body development, drugs and
alcohol, healthy relationships and decision-making.
According to Circle of Sisters
Program Associate Cheryl Gallagher, the primary goals of
the show are to offer the girls an opportunity to
reflect on the issues they’ve examined during the year,
to showcase their art for the community and to let
others know about the Circle of Sisters
program.
“This exhibit highlights how Circle
of Sisters has helped the girls grow during the year,”
Gallagher says. “Their experience comes out in their art
in so many ways.”
For example, one Circle of Sisters
group made and decorated plaster masks to reflect the
various faces they wear in different life situations.
Gallagher describes another project in which the girls
were given the basic tools of colored paper, scissors
and glue to explore the things they are frightened of,
happy about, and proud of. The resulting works of art,
she says, “are powerful.”
The young artists will be on hand
during the show to conduct docent tours of their work
and to make group presentations about the skills they’ve
learned in Circle of Sisters this year. Refreshments
will also be provided.
Admission to “Art Expo 2004” is
free. A fundraising raffle is being held to support the
program’s field trips and summer events. Prizes include
passes to Disneyland and Scandia, dinners at local
restaurants, massage packages and more. Raffle tickets
are $1 each and can be purchased in advance by phone, or
at the door.
Circle of Sisters is a free
after-school program sponsored by SJHS-SC to improve the
health and quality of life for girls (ages 10 - 14) and
their families by linking them with positive experiences
and resources in the community. The program focuses on
building the girls’ self-esteem and leadership skills
through discussions, journals and experiential
activities in a supportive atmosphere where they can
share their concerns and successes.
The program is offered at McKinley
Elementary School and Roundwalk Village in Petaluma, at
Creekside and Mountain Shadows Middle Schools in Rohnert
Park, at Panas Place in Santa Rosa, at Tomales School in
Tomales, at Guerneville School in Guerneville and at
Altamira School in Sonoma. New members are welcome at
all group sites. | 
