Artists for Humanity teens get ready to 'Bee' party hosts

The music is pumping in the background of a 5,000-square-foot art studio on a Thursday afternoon. Easels are lined across the floor. Small tables are covered in dried-up, splattered paint. Beams of sunlight capture the colors of canvas paintings and penetrate the room with warm air.

Unaffected by the clutter, young artists are scattered in their workspaces. They are drawn together by the vision of Susan Rodgerson, founder and director of Artists for Humanity, who has designated the theme of the 7th annual 'Greatest Party on Earth' event, which celebrates the earth and the creativity of young artists, as “Vanishing Bees.”

“We use this day to highlight environmental issues, and bees are a critical part of human life. There has been a problem with them dying in massive amounts,” said Rodgerson, adding that the theme was inspired by the documentary film, "Vanishing of the Bees."

The teen artists are expressing their interpretations of the bee theme through work that will be showcased and sold April 28 at the Artists For Humanity (AFH) EpiCenter, in the Fort Point art district. AFH’s central program, the Youth Arts Enterprise, is a paid apprenticeship and leadership program employing urban teens. Youths are partnered in small groups with professional artists, designers and young mentors to create, market and sell fine art and design services.

For the upcoming event, AFH "looks for diverse and abstract artwork, rather than literal pictures of bees and flowers,” said Maggi Brown, an AFH painting studio mentor.

Kelvin Nova (pictured above), a sophomore at Madison Park High School in Boston, conveys messages with meaning in a skilled graffiti-style form.

Traditional methods for graffiti have involved the use of spray paint, but Nova has infused his piece with a hip-hop flavor and lots of details, including eye-popping 3-D lettering that spells out the word “SAVE” in paint. A bee is strategically placed in the middle of the word.

The letter “V” is carved out as a red ribbon, representing the need to raise awareness. He has accented the piece with honeycombs and flowers that are bursting at the bottom of the canvas.

Nova is one of dozens of teens who have become paid apprentices for the organization by demonstrating a commitment to their craft. “I practice a lot. That’s how I’ve continued to improve and get better and better,” Nova said.

Rodgerson assesses the market value of each piece, which will carry price tags ranging from $100 for a small painting, to $4,000 for a large canvas piece. More than 100 pieces of artwork will be offered for sale.

“The kids volunteer to have their work sold," said Debbie First, AFH's communications consultant. If their work is purchased, 50 percent of the profit goes to the teen artist, and the other half goes into the AFH program.

Jameel Radcliffe, an AFH apprentice and a senior at West Roxbury High School, is working on an abstract piece that has bees disappearing into a blue sky, with elements of surrealism.

“Music motivates me," he explained. "I want people to realize that bees are disappearing and that we should have respect for them and have a deep appreciation for their existence."

For 'The Greatest Party On Earth' event, caterers from some top Boston restaurants donate food. This year, the food will match the theme: “The caterers are using everything from honeycombs to bee pollen to honey drizzles,” said Alexis Naylor, events manager for AFH. Live entertainment will include aerial performances and two bands. All money raised through ticket sales goes into the program.