Assiniboia鈥檚 Centre Street is looking markedly brighter thanks to two budding teen artists Christine Ughayon from Assiniboia and Najette Chouchane of the U.K. They are completing a window art project on the front of the Telestar building. Chouchane has been in Assiniboia visiting her friend Ughayon and will be departing later in the summer. The project is funded by Communities in Bloom and grew out of an initiative by Angela Wilson, an artist who moved to Assiniboia from Alberta. Wilson got involved with volunteering for the Assiniboia Arts Council and the Shurniak Gallery. Following a meeting with Communities in Bloom last month, Wilson picked up the paint and organized Ughayon and Chouchane to work on the project. The project is being completed for the Assiniboia and District Arts Council and the Shurniak Gallery.
Ughayon and Chouchane worked for a little over a week on the bright window paintings. They still have some final touches to complete, but were delayed by poor weather. The duo has also begun another project. They will be painting on dresses that will be displayed on the Assiniboia and District Arts Council float for Assiniboia鈥檚 Canada Day parade on July 1. Sheri Cowan, teacher at the Assiniboia Composite High School, has donated some dresses from the drama department for Ughayon and Chouchane to paint. Their theme is 鈥渂e your own masterpiece鈥�.
Wilson said that her main goal in encouraging the window art project is to encourage these young women to realize that they have a future in art. 鈥淭hey can go where their passions and talents take them.鈥�
Wilson was not expecting such a high level of quality when she first brought the two teens on board for the window project. But it soon became apparent that Ughayon has unlimited artistic potential. Ughayon has so far done art as a hobby and one medium she likes is digital art. Chouchane is also exceptionally talented and also has engaged in art only informally. Commenting on the window project, she noted that she wasn鈥檛 quite sure where the painting would take her. 鈥淲hen I paint, I don鈥檛 know what to expect,鈥� Chouchane added.
For the two artists, their work is in a very public place and comments can be intimidating. But Chouchane appreciates the feedback from the community about their art work that they have received so far. Wilson hopes Ughayon and Chouchane will grow in confidence and faith in their own artistic abilities. This project was unique because it broke down intergenerational and interracial barriers for participation. Ughayon and Chouchane鈥檚 art projects will also get some help from Garry Bradley, a summer student at the Shurniak Gallery who is from Medicine Hat. He is helping the duo with the float and he is also running a five-week arts program at the gallery for children. One group is aged five to nine and another group is aged 10 to 13 years. Bradley described the program as 鈥渁n educational experience in art, sculpting, painting.鈥�
Meanwhile, the artistic teens will have a busy summer. They have to complete the Telestar building window painting. Then, they will be busy painting on dresses to be used in the Canada Day parade in Assiniboia. After that, they have lined up another window art project. Ughayon will be showing her art at the Kay Cristo Room in March-April 2018 and Wilson鈥檚 work will be shown in January-February 2018.
