Participant Biographies and Project Descriptions

Grace Songolo
Grace has been a studio artist since her graduate work days at the University of Iowa. In 1992, she opened a gallery in the art community of Idyllwild to exhibit not only her own work, but also that of other well-known California artists.
She has recently returned to Laguna Niguel where she continues to create ceramic sculptures exploring concepts of balance as well as modular works. Ms. Songolo is in countless private collections around the world including those of Elizabeth Dole, Mrs. Jahan Sadat, and Queen Farah of Iran. She has exhibited her work in group and solo exhibitions for the past thirty years. Grace says, “Although I started out teaching art, I have spent most of my life creating art. Now I feel a need to get out of the isolation of the studio and interact with others using my art experience.”

Grace created a visual art and photography project entitled FOCUS for children. She is collaborating with Human Options, a shelter for people who are leaving abusive relationships. Human Options provides early intervention, emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, empowerment, parent education, social work services, and legal assistance for men, women and children. Grace worked closely with the Human Options executive director and program director to create this program where children will explore two themes while they are living at Human Options. These themes are Hands – How they can be used for good and bad, and The Pearl – how to find the unique beauty within yourself. Grace developed this program to promote self expression, confidence, initiative, creativity, and acceptance of these qualities in others. Grace believes that, “with directed, interactive discussion and self expression through photography and art, the children will not only learn certain aspects of art, composition and critical evaluation, but more importantly, gain confidence in their own worth, uniqueness, and inner strength.”