The City of Malibu Cultural Arts Commission and the Poet Laureate Committee are hosting a COVID-19-safe poetry and art exhibition at Malibu Bluffs Park Michael Landon Center (24250 Pacific Coast Highway). The outdoor exhibit featuring original literary and visual artwork created by Malibu Elementary School 5th grade students will be on display Feb. 14 through March 28.
Former Malibu Poet Laureate Ricardo Means Ybarra, assisted by Jolynn Regan, conducted a series of virtual poetry workshops with Ms. Levy and Ms. Matthews’ 5th-grade Malibu Elementary School students through the City of Malibu Arts in Education program. The students learned about writing poetry then created a visual representation of their poems with art teacher Nicole Fisher. The individual art pieces were then transformed into a cohesive and collaborative poetry quilt, which is on display on the exterior of the building so that the public can safely see the artworks close up while remaining outdoors.
Before the pandemic, the City regularly showcased artwork created by young artists from Malibu schools and local art studios in public art exhibitions in the Malibu City Hall art gallery. The current art exhibition was planned to be displayed outdoors for COVID-19 safety considerations.
The artwork and poems are also part of the 2021 Virtual Student Art Exhibit available online at MalibuArtsandCulture.org/ParkArt
Submitted by Matt Myerhoff
