Angels Gate Cultural Center

December 10, 2006 - January 15, 2007

Public Reception: Sunday, December 10, 2 pm - 4 pm

Angels Gate Cultural Center and Harbor Interfaith Services present a special exhibition of artwork created by homeless children featured at the Center.

The works were created by children who attend the HIS Kids Club, an after-school enrichment program for children residing in Harbor Interfaith's emergency family shelter or transitional housing programs. Since September, the children have been attending Friday sessions at the Center, where they worked with lead artist-teacher, Matthew Thomas to explore various forms of expression.

"Art provides a very healthy and creative outlet for children who may have experienced trauma due to homelessness and we are very excited about our collaboration with Angels Gate and very proud of the work the children have produced," Tahia Hayslet, Executive Director of Harbor Interfaith Services.

Mathew Thomas is an internationally known artist with a 17-year history of exhibitions in the U.S. and around the world, including shows in Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Korea and India. Mr. Thomas is also an important art instructor in Los Angeles. He has served as Visual Art chairperson for P.S. Arts, has taught at UCLA, USC, the Otis School of Design, the Kedrin Community Health Center, Barnsdall Park Junior Arts Center, Pasadena Armory, and RPOC in Taiwan.

Community member Joe LeBlanc coordinated the exhibit with Angels Gate Education Director Jessica Yang. LeBlanc is compiling a calendar featuring the children's works.

Donations will be accepted for ongoing support of the art program and Harbor Interfaith Services programs. If you are interested in making donations to support the art program for kids living in shelters please contact Jessica Yang, Education Director at 310.519.0936 or

The public is invited to attend the 2 to 4 p.m. opening at Angels Gate's Gallery A, located at 3601 S. Gaffey Street in San Pedro.

About Harbor Interfaith Services

Harbor Interfaith Services' mission is to provide emergency shelter, food, job placement, advocacy, transitional housing, childcare, and support services to the homeless and working poor. The agency empowers its clients with the self-esteem necessary to build success and achieve self-sufficiency. Harbor Interfaith also strives for the solutions needed to eliminate the larger social problems of hunger and homelessness.