Fifteen high school students from across the West Valley, including one from Goodyear, have been selected for the West Valley Arts Council’s 2025 Gallery 37 summer program, an annual initiative that brings together young artists to design and construct a public art piece.
The students will collaborate at Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, working under the guidance of a professional teaching artist. Their final project will be installed in Tolleson as part of the Paseo de Artes, a public art corridor along Van Buren Street.
Ryan Williams, a professional artist and editor with Gallery 37, said students who complete the program gain real-world experience that translates beyond the art world.
“These students are very marketable when they’re done with the program,” Williams said. “It shows that they’ve done work with a municipality. They can talk about working in a group, collaboration — really 21st century skills. The creativity of collaboration, the communication skills.”
Williams said the program offers a unique opportunity for young artists to grow while giving back to their communities.
The 2025 apprentices are Xander Armstrong, Rebecca Babida, Sienna Chisum, Desiree Dabney-Corona, Ashley Diaz, Gia DuBose, Vanessa Galvez, Brielle Garca, Andrea Garcia Barajas, Autumn Richards, Andrea Rios, Mia Robles, Jon Signs, Lan Truong and Ryu Zebell.
Participants represent the cities of Avondale, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Peoria, Phoenix, Surprise and Tolleson. They attend a range of area high schools, including Apollo, Desert Edge, Paradise Honors, Valley Vista and others.
“Gallery 37 is a cornerstone of WVAC’s mission to nurture young artists and foster cultural vibrancy throughout the West Valley,” said Kathy Knecht, executive director of the West Valley Arts Council. “This year’s cohort will not only sharpen their artistic talents but also leave a meaningful legacy for the Tolleson community.”
This summer, the 15 apprentices will gain college credit, a stipend for their work and hands-on experience focusing on youth development and regional public art projects, leaving a legacy as part of Gallery 37's artists who have been active for more than two decades.
Last year’s installation, unveiled Oct. 16 at Estrella Mountain Community College, was the result of a summer’s work by student artists and their instructors. Titled “Cultivating Community” and “Legacy of the Land,” the dual design creates multiple visual perspectives depending on where the viewer stands. The ribbon-cutting was facilitated by the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce and attended by program participants.
“I saw photos before I saw the sculpture in person and thought it was two pieces, but it’s not. The creativity is mind-blowing,” said Kathy Knecht, executive director of the West Valley Arts Council. “I always felt like education was a vehicle to make the world a better place, and certainly this is another step in that journey.”
Visit westvalleyarts.org for more information.
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