THE DALLES — A public exhibition and reception of Youth Empowerment Shelter (YES) artists will be held June 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Yvonne’s Art Studio and Gallery in The Dalles. After this exhibition, the artwork will be permanently displayed at Safespace in Hood River, which provides resources to at-risk children. “The results of their dedication — a collection of deeply personal artwork — will soon bring comfort and inspiration to other youth working through turbulence in their lives,” said a press release.

These local artists have spent a year participating in a local art program run by Gorge artist, Yvonne Pepin Wakefield, recently revived after COVID. “[The artists] come on weekends, they call and ask if they can work — and when they do, they show up on time and clean up after themselves,” said Pepin Wakefield. “They play music, they sing songs, and sometimes a car will pull up with DoorDash. It’s been a safe and creative space.” Held-up by lack of funding, YES had wanted to revive the art program and was finally able to thanks to “a generous seed donation,” from NW Natural and an additional grant from The Roundhouse Foundation.