The UNA is inviting residents to take part in a youth-led project that aims to showcase the diversity, values, and creativity within the campus neighbourhoods.
As part of the ‘Faces of our Community: An Art Project’, selected participants will have the opportunity to sit with a local youth artist and have their portrait painted. The portraits will form a mural that will be displayed at the Wesbrook Community Centre next year. All backgrounds and ages are welcome.
The project began to come together last year when a University Hill Secondary School student brought forth an idea of developing a youth-led mural at the Wesbrook Community Centre, says Hannie Chia, the UNA’s Youth Program Coordinator.
Once details were finalized, organizers began recruiting youth artists to commence the project, which is being coordinated by Youth Activity Leader Jessie Liu under the mentorship of Chia and the UNA’s youth programming team.
The project has now grown considerably since last summer, with over ten talented artists who have started to paint the portraits.
Chia expresses her gratitude towards the “dedication and talent of [the] youth artists” and the “enthusiasm shown by community members”.
In the past few weeks, the UNA has been reaching out to the community through its weekly newsletter and through flyers to attract residents who may be interested in sharing their stories and play a role in bringing the community together through the arts.
Once the mural is finished, it will be displayed in the Wesbrook Community Centre’s Social Lounge, visible to visitors from both inside and outside the space.
Community members who want to be involved with the project for a portrait session can reach out to the UNA, where they will be asked to fill out a questionnaire. As a part of the questionnaire, participants can include objects or items that best represent their identity or simply hold meaning. This serves the purpose of creating true, authentic portraits that reflect each individual’s story, organizers say.
The UNA also encourages youth artists between the ages of 13-18 who want to be involved to contact Chia at hannie.chia@myuna.ca, and find out how they can participate in the project.
AIZA MUBASHIR IS A GRADE 11 STUDENT AT UNIVERSITY HILL SECONDARY SCHOOL.