High-Risk Youth to Benefit From Art Exhibit

ART lovers and Costa Rican highrisk youth will come away happy this Wednesday when nonprofit organization Hogar Siembra hosts “Seeds of Hope 2005,” its third annual art sale designed to raise funds for high-risk young women.The art sale, to be held at Hotel Barceló San José Palacio Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., will feature 150 works by 100 national and international artists.At least 50% of proceeds from each purchase will go directly to Hogar Siembra, an organization dedicated to helping young women in high-risk surroundings through educational programs, safe housing, employment searches, and social-worker and psychological-counseling services.“I’ve been really devoted to this because I get a lot of feedback from these girls,” said event coordinator and artist Karen Clachar. “The results are so amazing, so impressive – the transformation of these girls is unbelievable.”The sale will feature works by upcoming young artists alongside those of time-honored, celebrity Latin American artists including Julio Larraz of Cuba, Fernando Botero of Colombia, Elmer Rojas of Guatemala and Costa Rican Jorge Jiménez Deredia.Tickets are available for ¢6,000 ($12.40), which includes wine and soft drinks, all-you-can-eat buffet and raffle entries for weekend getaways. Tickets can be purchased at the hotel (220-2034, ext. 658) or at the Web site www.mundoticket.com.Appointments can be made to view and purchase artwork prior to the event; call 381-5903.