Amplify Youth Committee is back hosting Artist Alley, its second annual art exhibition running November 23 to 27 at St. Albert Place lobby.
The exhibition will showcase 28 pieces of art created by youth artists from Grade 7 to 21 years. This year’s theme is “Folklore,” and youth artists have honed their skills using diverse mediums from pastel and acrylic to photography and digital art.
“Their interpretations of Folklore are very different. Some people went back and looked at stories from their culture. Some did mystical creatures and fairy tales. Some created a more magical or creepy atmosphere. Some photographed a dark and spooky atmosphere. It’s a cool mix,” said Kathleen Bell, city community cultural coordinator.
New this year and for one day only on Saturday, Nov. 23, the Amplify Youth Committee has planned a winter market highlighting 19 youth vendors from Grade 7 to 25 years of age.
There is a strong mix of offerings from art prints, stickers, pins, pottery, stuffies, bath balms, key chains, jewelry and 3-D printing. Crocheting, once relegated to grandma’s house, is reinventing itself in the younger community due to social media, while another vendor is hoping to capitalize on the slime fad.
“When the committee was in the talking and planning stages, the kids suggested adding a seasonal market. We kicked the idea around for a while, but I was worried we didn’t have enough young people as vendors. I was wrong,” Bell said.
“I love it when the committee suggests something, and I’m nervous about it and it’s a super success. To have 19 vendors apply for the first time is a super success. And I love the art exhibition. It reinforces the idea people want to see their art. It brightens their day, and I love to let kids know people appreciate their work and they are real artists.”
Also new this year are a series of five workshops: modern brush calligraphy, air-dry clay pencil cups, woodland gnome arrangement, needle-felt animal workshop, and folklore flower arrangement.
The workshops are at the low cost of $10 and are intended for youth who would like to learn a new craft they have never attempted. Workshops run throughout the day Saturday, Nov. 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Albert Place. Registration is required at tickets.stalbert.ca.
