Isabella Bustamante, founder of the New York-based Teen Art Salon, is partnering with two Starwood Retail Partners properties in South Florida, the Mall at Wellington Green and the Westland Mall, to help launch a year-round arts initiative that cultivates South Florida’s young artist community.
Both malls will host Teen Art Salon, which promotes and supports the creative pursuits of youth by providing free arts programming that includes instruction, space and materials needed for young adults ages 13-19. The program debuts on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Mall at Wellington Green in the Live 360° Studio located on the lower level near Nordstrom.
Both malls will have exhibitions featuring work from young adults and students in Bustamante’s New York program.
“I’m so pleased to help develop southern Florida’s Teen Art Salon initiative at Wellington Green and Westland,” said Bustamante, who is in the Miami and Palm Beach areas to help coach and cultivate each property’s salon program. “Starwood Retail Partners and its malls are stepping to the forefront of community support; it’s a real community gift to have each mall donate supplies and provide a creative space for teenagers to explore art and expression.”
Teen Art Salon is free and consists of four consecutive weekly art salons at both properties.
Bustamante will take up residence at both Wellington Green and Westland on different days for four weeks where she will collaborate with local students to create the art of their choosing such as paintings, drawings, wire sculptures, embroidery, clothing and more.
Area students and art lovers will be able to meet both Bustamante and one of her star students from New York, and learn more about the salon itself and how it works.
“One of the key goals of the program is to build confidence and self-determination within the students, because such qualities can be used in any field or industry the young artist ultimately chooses as they begin adulthood and the college process,” Bustamante said. “I can’t wait to see what the students create, and I think that mall guests will enjoy seeing the finished products.”
Art Salon classes will be held every Sunday from Feb. 11 through March 4 from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Live 360° Studio.
Teen Art Salon is dedicated to providing young artists free instruction, space and materials needed to establish and advance a self-directed art practice.
