From music to the visual arts, the Pembina Valley teems with artistic talent.
Currently, there is an opportunity to explore what the next generation is adding to the landscape of creativity at Winkler Arts & Culture (WA&C).
“It's basically a variety show by both Garden Valley Collegiate and Northlands Parkway Collegiate students,” says Jered Hildebrand, the executive director of WA&C. “It's a lot of the select work that they've been working on this year from their assignments.”
A variety of media
Hildebrand says the showcase features timeless media, including acrylic, oil, charcoal, pastel, and clay. There are also mixed media pieces.
“For the first time, I believe, this year, we've also got a little bit of photography involved from the photography class that has been video edited together in a nice little presentation,” he says.
An exploration of time
Taylor Hildebrand, a student at Garden Valley Collegiate, is one of the young artists sharing their talent with the community through the exhibit at WA&C.
Her piece — originally created for the Pembina Hills Arts Council — explores the theme of time, a prompt that students received.
“I created a sculpture of an old lady's hand weathered by paint,” she says. “My idea was that this is the hand of an artist who had spent her life dedicated to creating art, just in this simple representation of her hand.”
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Taylor says that other themes of time that occurred to her and the other students include clocks and seasons. Her piece is about “growing up.”
“I just thought, you know what, as time passes, we're all getting older and as I spend my time here at my desk, at school, or at home, I'm creating art and ... I think whatever way you interpret it, it's kind of an interesting thing to think about.”
For Taylor, another highlight of the theme on display at WA&C is a “photorealistic” ice cube painted by one of her friends that represents the passage of time.
Making art accessible to the community
While displaying high school students’ art offers something to the community, the exhibit also benefits the students themselves.
It’s an introduction to the art world of the Pembina Valley and an invitation to participate in it, according to Hildebrand.
“We want to continue to support our young artists,” he says. “Art isn't finished when school is.”
Hildebrand says that after this high school exhibit, there are other opportunities to get involved in WA&C.
“Have an exhibit — be a part of a member show,” he says. “There are all these opportunities to continue to create.”
The high school art exhibit at Winkler Arts & Culture, which has 181 pieces in its collection and a large mural, will be on display until June 21st.
With files from Ty Hildebrand
