For over a decade, Mission youth have had the opportunity to share their art at the Rock Family Art Gallery.
The annual "Young Voices" exhibit returned to the Mission Arts Council (MAC) on Tuesday (May 6) with the awards reception on Saturday (May 10).
Donna Duvall has been coordinating the exhibit since its inception. She says the idea came from Hatzic art teacher Wendy Lewington.
“Youth artists just amaze us each year,” Duvall said.
Students from Mission Secondary and Heritage Park Middle feature roughly 40 entries in the exhibit, which they completed in school.
According to Duvall, this year’s slate of entries features some amazing projects ranging from sketches to mixed media to paintings and more.
“Just the thought that goes into each of these is just amazing – to think what their process is in creating it – everything you can think of is there,” she said.
Ava Trakenberg won best in show for middle school students for "Lucid Dream”, while Valerie Nguyen’s "White Rabbit" received an honourable mention. Meanwhile, Otis Newell’s “End of War” was best in show for Mission Secondary, with Clara Neumann earning the honourable mention for “Freedom”.
Previous versions of the exhibit featured themes, but in recent years, the MAC shifted to “Young Voices” to provide flexibility.
“They always come through. The last two years have been just as good as the themed ones. This way it doesn't limit anybody,” Duvall said.
Duvall says she is an advocate for art as community healing.
“Sometimes, [youth] will have political voice in their art and it shows who they are – getting to know them, you get a lot of respect. So I think it's important for the public to come out and see what our youth can do and who they are and they show it through their art,” Duvall said.
The exhibit is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. until May 24.
