Cochrane’s young talent was on display on Saturday, with successful art and musical showcases highlighting a hunger for creative youth options in town.
“It’s pretty cool to have this in the community,” said Jen Duguay, whose three children participated in Smyth Art & Studio’s inaugural youth art show and sale. “My kids have always loved art … they get to see what it’s like in the big world.”
Gallery owner, Heidi Smyth, came up with the idea earlier this year to host a children’s event to “engage young artists and encourage them,” as well as help kids learn how to present and prepare their work for public gallery viewing.
Youth as young as two years old were given a few weeks to create up to two pieces of art – with minimal help from their parents – or choose from their already-made collection.
Smyth gave instructions on how to properly mount the paintings, drawings, sculptures and more.
Smyth then covered the bright white walls of her East End gallery with the kids’ 31 different designs, and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., young artists mingled with visitors and talked about their prolific productions.
Duguay’s youngest used balloons dipped in paint to create a colourful canvas, while daughter, Aura, worked with sand and seashells, and said she was inspired to create the beach scene by her brother’s underwater-decorated bedroom.
She loved seeing her finished work on display at Smyth’s studio.
“(It’s) cool because I don’t get to go to art galleries that much and I like to paint and do crafts,” said the girl. “When you paint, you can just think of anything and you can do something that’s real or something that’s cool.”
Young Sofia Klassen’s piece featured a killer whale – one of a series of paintings she made to try to raise money to support the nautilus, an endangered sea mollusc.
“It’s really, really, really mysterious. It’s fun to learn more about it,” said the nine-year-old of the sea.
Sofia’s mom, Malann, said all three of her daughters were thrilled to take part in the showcase.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to feel some pride and for them to share their inspiration and their creations,” she said.
Artist MJ Stead stopped by to admire the children’s artwork and said she was fully in support of the overall idea of a youth-centred gallery show.
The concept also plays into a desire for more activities that engage youth identified in the recent Cochrane Cares needs assessment. Nearly half of the youth who responded to the survey stated they felt a sense of isolation at one time or another.
“It opens up a whole world of creativity for them. It builds their self-esteem, it creates ambition … I love it,” said Stead, adding she still has a picture she made when she was in Grade 2. “These kids will remember it for years – they could be painting for the rest of their lives.”
While young artists’ work was on display in the daytime, on Saturday night, it was young musicians who shone in the spotlight at the Hideout Pub.
With the recent removal of video lottery terminals at the Cochrane mainstay, owner Ronnie Knowles created an opportunity for those under 18 to legally come in and take the stage.
Spanish Guitar Studios’ Martin Russell hosted the evening, with three Bow Valley High School students entertaining the crowd.
“It’s fun to have the opportunity to perform,” said senior student Thomas Cameron, who was on deck to play a few guitar solos, as well as a couple of duets with friend and fellow finger-picker Austin Johnson.
The teens said Deja Brew Espresso and Wine Bar and Bethany Care Centre also offer venues for youth musicians to play in public.
“You can get out and meet people,” said Johnson.
Back at the art studio, Smyth said she hopes that providing a public space for youth to participate in the arts will inspire them to continue to create.
“They have done something maybe that other people haven’t done,” she said. “Anything’s possible.”
