Courthouse Paintings

In a 4’ x 8’ painting by the children of Auberle that now hangs in courtroom of Allegheny County Juvenile Court, Northern Region, a child observes from afar a family of four walking hand in hand down a yellow road with the message “There is Always Hope.”

The teenage artists from Auberle’s residential and shelter programs have experienced first-hand the juvenile court system in Allegheny County and know the emotions that other kids feel waiting to learn what will happen to them. The goal of this and two other courthouse paintings done by the children of Auberle is to provide children in that situation with a sense of understanding and hope.

While helping new young visitors to the court is the goal, the paintings are therapeutic for the kids as they better understand all of the emotions they experienced going through the court system. There is also a great sense of pride in creating a work of art that will serve to both beautify the court and provide comfort to other children.

Auberle was commissioned by the juvenile courts to do these paintings. The process started with selecting a painting theme and then having the children do individual drawings before tying it all together on canvas under the guidance of local artist Laurie Marshall.

All of the paintings have the same frame inscription, “For the children in the courts from the children in the courts.”

 [ Return to Kids' Doings Page ]