MALIBU—The founder of New Earth, formerly known as Camp David Gonzalez, which was a former detention center that ran from 1980 to 1986 located on Las Virgenes Boulevard, has added a mural to the back wall of the camp.
Harry Grammar, who is the founder of New Earth decided that Artist Augustus “Gus” Harper would be the perfect artist to paint the 18 foot by 600 foot long wall.
“He has been following my art for years and watched me paint murals throughout Southeast Asia and finally a large scale one in Santa Barbara. He thought I would be the right guy to do a transformative mural on the back wall of the camp,” Harper told Canyon News.
“I was inspired by the idea of transfiguration, the evolution of the human spirit to a higher state. I want to make something uplifting and optimistic that was in line with the new vibe of the facility,” said Harper to Canyon News.
New Earth is an organization whose mission is to transform the lives of teens involved with the juvenile justice system. New Earth offers programs that help further education for at risk youth. These programs help at risk youth realize their full potential as contributing members of society.
One of New Earth’s programs called F.L.O.W., which stands for Fluent Love Of Words, include classes that offer skills to perfect social emotional development by encouraging self-expression. In this program, participants learn the power of self-expression through creative writing. Many of the participants of F.L.O.W. have increased their GPA, increased their capacity for leadership, and have learned important skills to manage their emotions.
New Earth serves 700 young people a week between the ages of 13 through 25 in juvenile halls and youth detention camps. Less than 5 percent of New Earth’s youth recidivate.
