By Leilani Lynch, Locust Projects

In June and July, 25 South Florida high school students come together to create a collaborative exhibition at Locust Projects’ gallery in Miami’s Design District. Now in its 5th year, the Locust Art Builders program began in 2010 with major support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. During a three-week summer intensive, the 2014 Locust Art Builders (LAB) developed their exhibition under the direction of contemporary visual artists Monica Lopez de Victoria of the TM Sisters and Loriel Beltran, and take part in professional development and networking opportunities, art history and guest speaker lectures, and collaborative art-making exercises.

Click here to watch a WSVN Channel 7 report on the 2014 LAB program.

The LAB program extends Locust Projects’ 16-year commitment to experimentation and innovation in artistic practice to the next generation of South Florida artists. LAB promotes contemporary art and project-based learning as a means to encourage creativity, critical analysis, and problem solving, while building communication skills. This unique initiative allows young artists to learn the practical and exciting aspects of creating a public exhibition in collaboration with their peers.

The exhibition will be on view through August 16, 2014. Please join us for a closing reception on Saturday, August 16 at 7pm.

LAB 2014 Participants Kristen Baldaccini, TERRA Environmental Research Institute, David Baptiste, Miami Beach Senior High, Marco Barbieri, TERRA Environmental Research Institute, Cyrus Blot, North Miami Senior High School, Allison Bouganim, Design and Architecture Senior High, Valeria Buttaci, Gulliver Preparatory School, Ashley Chacon-Herrera, Mays Conservatory of the Arts, Carolina Cuevas, G. Holmes Braddocus Senior High, Micaela Diaz Galvez, Sunset Miami Sunset Senior High, Valentina Echeverry, Academy of Arts and Minds, Ephraim James, Coral Reef Senior High School, Sofia Fascia, Dr. Michael Krop Senior High, Chloe P. Friend, New World School of the Arts, Beth Kimsey, Miami Arts Charter, Ana Martinez Oletta, Palmer Trinity School, Betty McGhee, Ransom Everglades, Fabiola Millan, New World School of the Arts, Vincent Nastasi, Academy of Arts and Minds, Luciano Picone, Design and Architecture Senior High, Danielle J. Respeto, New World School of the Arts, Galicia Rothe, Palmer Trinity School, Anais Shaw, TERRA Environmental Research Institute, Catherine Toruno, John A. Ferguson Senior High School, Camila Villa, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, Emmaneul Williams, Design & Architecture Senior High

LAB (Locust Art Builders) July 12-August 16, 2014 Closing reception & conversation with LAB MFA 2014, Andrew Horton: August 16, 2014 at 7:00pm Gallery hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm