Vladimir Smith
Age: 20
Member/ Mentor/ Alumni
Artist statement
My name is… well my name isn’t important only my art is, just kidding, but that’s how serious I am about my artwork. I began my journey for positive self-development in elementary school. I took an after school program learning about black history and its role in American history. They taught me a poem on the seven rights of passage in Swahili. That’s what sparked my passion for poetry. It wasn’t until about ’96 when my love for digital art was born. I believe that I was in the sixth grade and I was having a hard time with school socially and scholastically and at the time, the Computer Clubhouse was like a sanctuary-- an escape from the adversities that are constantly hurled in our path of success. I believe art is a form of expression that can be expressed in many forms. For me it is graphic design and poetry. Now after about eight years of nurturing this god given talent I find myself not where I want to be but on the path to where I want to go. And thanks to the Computer Clubhouse, they helped me to realize that path.