SEE Magazine
Copyright © 1998. All Rights Reserved.
VISUAL ARTS
BY AUBREY CHAUPREVIEW
Art from the Unknown
Old Strathcona Arts Barns
Dec. 18-20Talk about a literal starving artist. The Art from the Unknown exhibit, running this weekend at the Old Strathcona Arts Barns, showcases art from Edmonton's low-income artists.
The exhibit was organized by the Old Strathcona office of New Democrat MLA Raj Pannu, a group called Poverty in Action, and the street-distributed magazine Our Voice. Pannu says his office decided to spearhead the exhibit to show that the poor do have something to offer and show there is "room in this society for everyone."
The first version of Art from the Unknown came together last year. With the second year under way, Pannu suggested, "the hope is we will be able to make it an annual event." Last year, he adds, the show received "strong and positive feedback."
Last year's show featured about 50 artists and received national coverage from CBC. Its growth in popularity and impact is immediately apparent in the fact this year's Art from the Unknown features works from over 80 artists. Pannu says so many artists were interested this time around, organizers had to turn some people down.
"We'll give (the artists) confidence and self-worth," Pannu says of the goals of the project. He calls the show a "major attempt for some community development," and sees it as a chance to commend the artists for their resiliency and creativity.
Although the show is organized by Pannu's constituency office, it's not his brainchild.
"I wish I could take credit for this," he laughed, "but it came from the heart and mind of Florence Pastour."
Pastour, Pannu's assistant, came up with the idea for an art exhibit after a woman came into the office looking for help. Theresa McBryan had been kicked off welfare and was taking Social Services to court. While helping McBryan, Pastour says she learned new things about McBryan.
"People talked about what a great artist she was."
So Pastour suggested putting on an art show to help raise some money for the Christmas season. And it grew from there.
Pastour says the show took artists on a first-come, first-serve basis. The only requirement was that applicants had to be either students working at minimum wage or those on some kind of social assistance.
Aaron Paquette, who participated in last year's exhibit and will be part of this year's event, heard about Art from the Unknown through his wife, who was doing her practicum with Pastour. Paquette, who works part-time in an office, does masterpiece recreations; if you wanted a replica of a piece of the Sistine Chapel, he'd be the one to turn to.
At last year's event, Paquette received offers for work and sold some of his art. He says Edmonton has a great arts community, and adds Art from the Unknown should help it expand even more. He even hopes the event could reach Fringe-like proportions because "last year was amazing."
Another veteran of last year's event is Yolannah Diakiw. She originally got involved after reading an advertisement looking for artists. She liked what she saw a year ago so she's back.
Diakiw, who's unemployed at the moment, describes her artwork as expressive realism with German influences. She adds many art galleries won't take a chance on budding artists because their lack of reputation in the arts community means they don't bring in patrons. And even though Diakiw took fine arts at the University of Alberta, she doesn't necessarily feel she's ready for galleries. Still, art is in her blood, as both her parents made their living as artists.
Art from the Unknown opens Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. with performances by Dale Ladouceur, the Notre Dame des Bananes Choir, Vivek Bilgi, Maren Ord and Robert Jagodizinski. Guest speaker will be Senator Doug Roche. For more information, call Flo at 414-0702.
| Go To Issue Contents | Go To Main Index | Go To Listings |