Clark County Youth House will host an art show from 5-8 p.m. today at 1012 Esther St., Vancouver, displaying multimedia artwork. The show’s theme is “And We Stood Our Ground” — named by the participating youth — and it offers a glimpse into the resiliency that youth have demonstrated as they navigate the pandemic, isolation loss and reflect on people and things that have helped them cope and thrive, said Vicki Dahlgren, program director for Youth House. “We will feature all kinds of art that youth have used to express themselves artistically,” Dahlgren said. Clark County’s Youth House is a mental health and youth empowerment center developed by Clark County Community Services. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.

The show will display various forms of art: paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery, and live performances, among others. Some of the pieces will be available for purchase. Art is tied to reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. Youth using art as therapy find it has also improved their self-worth and confidence. Dahlgren said although she is not an art therapist, she has worked in the agency for 26 years. Through her years at Youth House, she said they have always encouraged clients to express themselves through art. “Sometimes we have trouble getting youth to open up and then we give them some paper and some markers and they’ll start drawing something that begins a talking point of where they are at,” Dahlgren said. For more information, go to https://clark.wa.gov/community-services/youth-house.

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