June 8 to July 14, 2013
Youth inSights
Youth inSights is a six-month-long after-school art program conceived to engage teens who may be considering a career in the arts. Through a series of workshops, gallery projects, and opportunities to work with local emerging and established artists, teens get an up-close and personal look at what it is like to work as an artist and to work in the arts and culture sector. Youth inSights is meant to integrate students into the gallery setting by working on specific projects, and to teach them practical skills they can transfer to a University or employment setting.
The art in this exhibition is a culmination of the projects completed with three local artists, as well as works the students completed on their own. In January, the class began with a drawing course led by Rose Braun. Students used a mixed- media approach to drawing, and each class was based on a different theme. Following this, Marlene Mcpherson held a watercolour class, in which she taught the students the basics of watercolour painting, and gave them a variety of techniques for dealing with the landscape. The program finished with acrylic painting taught by Rena Warren. Students learned about colour mixing and the various ways that paints are made. Their sessions with Warren consisted of painting a number of still-life images, and finished with a painting on canvas.
This is the fourth year the Kelowna Art Gallery has offered Youth inSights, and it has been rewarding to see the dedication of these students to the six-month-long program, and to see many of them continue on to art school. All of these students are to be commended for their efforts.
