West Valley City, Utah - Under the guidance of Michael Moonbird and Victoria Lyons of Bad Dog Rediscovers America, West Valley City youth will leave their artistic impressions for generations to enjoy. As part of the Utah Transit Authority's Art in Progress program, youth will decorate several large planter boxes with beautifully painted ceramic tiles at its new TRAX hub in West Valley.

Artist Victoria Lyons, co-founder of Bad Dog Rediscovers America, says one of the neat things about these tiles is their durability, "I tell the kids that these tiles are made in such a way that they'll be able to take their grandkids to see them," she says. "They find it funny to think that they'll someday be old enough to be grandparents, but it also helps establish in their minds the permanency of what they are creating."

Moonbird and Lyons of Bad Dog Rediscovers America are working with several partners on this project. These include the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, Community Education Partners and Westlake Junior High. When this project is complete the youth will have created 224 feet of 6"x6" tiles. Installation of these tiles will begin as soon as the weather permits in Spring 2010.

"It's a great privilege to be working with the youth of West Valley City on this project," says Artist Michael Moonbird, co-founder of Bad Dog Rediscovers America. "West Valley is fast becoming one of Utah's leaders in creating awareness and appreciation for public art, and it's an honor to be involved in a small part of that."

This is a mock-up of what the West Valley TRAX Hub Planter Box will look like.

Bad Dog Rediscovers America is a non-profit afterschool youth and community arts program. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bad Dog Rediscovers America offers classes in visual arts and creative writing, as well as teen apprenticeships. For more information on these programs as well as the West Valley City TRAX art project please call (801) 322-3816 or email your questions by following the links in the Key Contacts box to the right of this article.

Bad Dog's Mission is: To inspire youth from diverse cultures to experience the power and freedom to imagine, dare, and create new possibilities, individually and collaboratively, through the creative arts. Experienced artists/mentors help young people develop their imaginations and strive for excellence in drawing, painting, sculpture, creative writing, and digital multimedia.

Bad Dog offers programs for children at the Bad Dog studio, and partners through local schools, and other programs within the community, which include working with autistic children, teen programs, and working with diverse populations such as refugees at the Hartland Youth program. Many of these children do not experience art regularly, but through these programs great potential for future art is untapped. These programs not only give children art experience, but also creative thinking and problem solving skills, and pride in craftsmanship. With the help of Bad Dog, these children who do not normally get the chance to express themselves through art are provided the opportunity.

The NEA is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education, because a "great nation deserves great art". The Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts.

Bad Dog is dedicated to helping young people explore their creativity, ignite their imagination, and build self worth. For a full list of grant recipients, visit www.nea.gov/recovery/nea-recovery-act-grants.html. For more information about Bad Dog Rediscovers America, call 801-322-3816 or visit the website at www.baddogkids.org.