A co-operative art exhibit featuring work of Prince Edward County students aged 14-18 continues at the Arts on Main Gallery until February 21.

“How You See It” opened February 1 and is being hosted in conjunction with theROC Youth and Social Services organization. All proceeds from sales of these works will be split equally between the student artist and theROC. The co-operative gallery has donated their Backroom Gallery space for the youth art show.

“Arts on Main Gallery is proud to be associated with this impressive group,” said Pamela Carter of Arts on Main. “The Gallery envisions this exhibit as a way to assist and encourage many young artists in our community.”

Charlotte Miller is theROC’s Youth Programming and Case Management worker. She said the organization was honoured to be invited by Arts on Main to spearhead an art engagement initiative. How You See It brings community youth together and allows them a venue to exhibit their creations in a show that will benefit both the students and the organization.

Utilizing the services of The Department of Illumination, theROC hosted a pair of multi-media workshops for youth that focussed on a joint collaborative piece as well as enhancing artistic processes. This involved the students tapping into self-expression, processing emotions, working through events, community building and reflecting what they see around them.

“The sale portion benefits the local youth artists and also helps theROC keep the lights on and the doors open,” Ms. Miller said.

Homegrown Talent

One of the artists featured in the show is Mirabelle Barnes. Ms. Miller noted that the student already had an impressive body of work and the show allows Ms. Barnes to exhibit her work in her home community.

Ms. Barnes, 18, said she started taking her art more seriously during the pandemic and hopes to continue her studies at a college of fine arts this fall. Her submissions at How You See It are indicative of her body of work which primarily consists of female portraits.

“I don’t usually have a reference, it’s mostly free hand from my head and I usually have something that’s out of place,” she explained to the Gazette. One of her works features a background of cicadas. Another has fish flying through the sky.

Ms. Barnes said she first attended theROC to help in their mural project and really enjoyed the experience. It offered her the chance to connect with other youth she normally wouldn’t engage with at school.

“I made some really great friends that way and it was so nice to have an artistic outlet outside of school,” she added.