The arts are springing up in the streets and on stages throughout Santa Clarita.

March kicked off the city of Santa Clarita’s “First Thursdays” Art Slam of 2014, featuring women artists during Women in History month. “Fem Slam” invited women to create and display paintings and sculptures during the evening hours in Old Town Newhall.

Curbside-equipped with easel, spotlight, oil palette and a pretty model adorned in a Renaissance costume sat artist Lorelle Miller of Saugus.

“I love to paint and will take any opportunity to paint,” Miller said. “I keep thinking we’re making progress, but it seems the women (artists) need more support and recognition.”

Meanwhile in Canyon Country, artists voiced their views about why the arts are important. Many had seen the candidate forum, “Focus on the Arts,” presented by the newly reformed Arts Alliance. Visual and performing artists greeted one another with a snippet of their talent, making for a richly cultural experience.

Alan Schwartz

“I went through a very dark period in my life,” said Alan Schwartz of Castaic, standing with a cubist representation of the Facebook “Like” logo.  “I look back and think, boy I was really messed up. That was not something I could express with words. Art allows me to express, explore and experience.”

DaShell Wilder, also of Castaic, and her mother, Gloria, recalled discovering her talent as a vocalist in junior high school.

“My children began singing in the church choir at age 3 and 4 while I directed and played piano. We sang and played from sunup to sundown. Then as a seventh grader, DaShell sang the lead in a school performance, and the whole auditorium went crazy,” Gloria said. “I just don’t understand why they would take prayer and music, the arts, out of the schools. It gives children nothing to go on.”

Actress Kaylene Parker offered a snippet as Lady Macbeth.

DaShell Wilder

“Without the arts,” she said, “we do not experience a full range of expression or communication as a society. Not everyone is verbal nor linguistic. Without the arts we are condemning a large portion of our society.”

The Shakespearean trek brought us back to Newhall and the Repertory East Playhouse with a preview of “The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet.” Presented by the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival, guests were treated to the production for ninth graders as part of the English literature curriculum.

“Romeo and Juliet is an important lesson for the ninth graders who study it in almost every high school across the county. It’s not a love story. It’s a story about impetuous behavior that still effects ninth graders today,” said David Stears, executive director of the festival.

Valencia became “Never, Never Land” where the SCV’s youngest residents were thrilled to see Peter Pan fly onto the stage at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center. Arts and crafts engaged children for an interactive pre-show appetizer complimenting TheatreWorks USA’s production.

“We are continuing to make the performing arts for families and children a high priority at the PAC,” said Executive Director Evy Warshawski. “It’s fun, entertaining and educational, too. The arts activities before the shows have been very popular, and we thank the COC Teach program for its creativity and volunteer spirit.

“I loved my homemade eye patch for ‘Peter Pan,’” she added.

Christian Castro, who portrayed both Father and Captain Hook, offered inspiration to performing and visual artists. “You do your best and God will do the rest,” he said.

Spring is in the air and so are the arts. Santa Clarita offers a flourishing field of arts and entertainment for all ages to experience.

Aye, Mr. Smee, there is a treasure box of arts to be discovered in the streets and on the stage in Santa Clarita.

Gloria Locke is a Santa Clarita resident and producer of “SCV-Arts & Entertainment,” which airs Fridays and Sundays on SCVTV.