Student artists have their dreams, and they were recently given the chance to use art to showcase their visions for life.

“My hope is to just stay strong and be happy because we want Mother Earth to be safe,” LeRon Clah, an Albuquerque Public Schools student, told KOB4 recently. "We just want everything to stop – the violence and riots – I just want Mother Earth to have good peace.”

Taking that dream and turning it into a picture is where the children and their imaginations and talents come into play. LeRon’s painting was among those on display during a July 13 fundraising “Pictures of Hope” exhibit.

Each picture was mounted with a short statement of the artist’s hopes for the future. The budding artists took advantage of the McKinney-Vento Program, which sponsored the one-day exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum. The program offers services to homeless children and families.

After the artwork is auctioned off, the money raised will go to benefit the students and their families.

The artists were as young as 6, like the child identified only as Myles. He couldn’t read the message written under his art, but it said, “My dream is to have fun and help people.”

When asked why that was how his dream was summed up, Myles said, “Because there are people that are homeless and stuff, and that’s bad.”

One goal of the exhibit it to encourage children to participate in making positive change and use their talents to draw attention to their hopes and dreams.