Bizarre, colorful masks look out from the...

Bizarre, colorful masks look out from the walls of the Joslyn Center of the Arts in Torrance. There also are multicolored images of leaves rolled onto paper, and lakes, trees and mountains in watercolor. Delicate figurines crafted of green and purple straws sit atop display stands.

These and other pieces of children’s art--300 in all--may be seen in the center’s gallery this Monday through Friday during the second annual display of work from the South Bay Hands on Art program.

The art was created by kindergartners through eighth-graders in eight public, private and parochial schools in Torrance and Redondo Beach. In the program, volunteer parents trained by professional artists help children with art projects in the classroom.

This year, 3,000 youngsters took part in the program, which focused on the theme “Art and the Seasons.” Work for the show was chosen from each school by lot.

Show chairman Linda Bille said the art is not judged, and there is no such thing as failure. “The philosophy is that all are able to do art successfully,” she said.

Teri Kuwahara , chairman-elect of the program, said children are able to “project their imaginations” and boost their confidence.

The youngsters did five different projects this year, but 9-year-old Mike Bille thought mask-making was the most fun. The masks represent “weird characters,” he said, especially those done in fluorescent paint.

Gallery hours for the free show are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. A reception honoring the young artists will be held Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. Joslyn Center is at 3320 Civic Center Drive.