Assiniboia’s Centre Street is looking markedly brighter thanks to two budding teen artists Christine Ughayon from Assiniboia and Najette Chouchane of the U.K. They finished a window art project on the front of the Telestar building and Ughayon completed window art for Suzie’s Doggie Den. 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 had some final touches to complete, but were delayed by poor weather.
The duo also began another project. They painted on dresses that were displayed on the Assiniboia and District Arts Council float for Assiniboia’s Canada Day parade on July 1. Cheri Cowan, teacher at the Assiniboia Composite High School, donated some dresses from the drama department for Ughayon and Chouchane to paint. Their theme is “be your own masterpiece”.
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. “They can go where their passions and talents take them.”
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’t quite sure where the painting would take her. “When I paint, I don’t know what to expect,” 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’s art projects also got some help from Garry Bradley, a summer student at the Shurniak Gallery who is from Medicine Hat. He helped 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 “an educational experience in art, sculpting, painting.”
Meanwhile, the artistic teens planned a busy summer. They completed the Telestar building window painting. Then, they painted on dresses to be used in the Canada Day parade in Assiniboia. After that, they finished another window art project. Ughayon will be showing her art at the Kay Cristo Room in March-April 2018 and Wilson’s work will be shown in January-February 2018.
