Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth.
YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them.
Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.
Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.
“Empowering youth artistic spirit through by encouraging expression, conversation and celebration.”
The motto of an initiative founded in 2013 by two driven, determined and passionate high school students, the Calgary Youth Art Exhibition is ready to become an integral part in helping young artists develop, as well as find a platform for their work.
Truly a story of awesome youth, proving that youth are truly awesome, Vicky Xiao and Tracy Li have spent countless hours, days, weeks and months in order to finally launch the Calgary Youth Art Exhibition. The purpose of the Calgary Youth Art Exhibition (CYAE) is to allow young artists within the City of Calgary to expose themselves and their artwork to the world. Furthermore, artists will be able to gain recognition, constructive criticism, and of course, complements and praise for all their hard work. The most unique part of the CYAE is that artists will be provided with a new network to socialize, collaborate, and discuss with fellow young artists. An upcoming exhibition which will be held at the High Grounds Café will feature the work of founders Tracy Li and Vicky Xiao among many other talented young artists.
Your work can be showcased from August the 1st to August the 15th at the High Grounds Cafe alongside Vicky and Tracy’s! The deadline for submission is Saturday July the 5th. Please visit the website for more information, and be sure to continue reading!
I had the absolute honor and privilege of speaking with founders Vicky and Tracy about the CYAE and their upcoming, inaugural showcase at the High Grounds Café.
Arron: What was your primary motivation in creating the Calgary Youth Art Exhibition? What do you feel this group can offer to aspiring young artists?
Tracy Li: I wanted Calgary to have a platform for their youth to display their artistic talents in the community. I’ve been to several Calgary Art Walks, usually held in the fall. The Calgary Art Walk is a weeklong collective initiative amongst the primary professional exhibitions and art studios of Downtown Calgary. It’s a wonderful free event, open to the general public, which allows art-goers to check out the pieces of established local artists. Furthermore, the artists themselves are often at the exhibitions, making it a wonderful social experience. However, these exhibitions provided little exposure for emerging local artists, let alone youth artists. Therefore, I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for Calgary’s artistic youth to display their art in a public setting, where they can discuss with one another about their art, and even potentially sell their art to captivated viewers. I think that the Calgary Youth Art Exhibition creates initiative and a common goal amongst youth artists. They will want to create more pieces, express themselves in an environment filled with pieces of self-expression from similar others, and acquaint with new people.
Arron: What can aspiring artists do if they want to become involved with the CYAE? What are the requirements of joining?
Tracy Li:We welcome all interested individuals event, follow up on art updates (including pictures of any art submissions that we’ve received) whether you’re an artist, appreciator or supporter. For artists wanting to submit their artwork, all they need to do is follow the submission instructions listed on our Facebook page and website. It’s super simple, and takes very little time! Send us your art and submission information at youthartexhibition@gmail.com. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us through either Facebook or our email!
Arron: What was your first experience with the visual arts?
Vicky Xiao: To be honest, I don’t really remember when I started to draw. When I was around four or five years old, one of my favorite hobbies involved doodling cartoon drawings on pieces of print paper and cutting up my drawings to create makeshift puzzles. But my interest in the visual arts was probably first sparked when my parents first started bringing me to art classes. It was my first time meeting artists who were much older and more skilled than I was. That kind of exposure to, and interaction, with different and more talented artists really inspired me to work harder on my own artwork. One of my biggest reasons for spearheading this event is my hope that the CYAE can help accomplish something similar for other artists as those art classes once did for me!
Arron: What is your favorite medium of art? What about it elevates it above the others?
Vicky Xiao: Oil paint, without a doubt. It can create almost anything you like. You can create jaunting, angular images like Max Beckmann in Expressionism, or soft imagery like George Seurat in Pointillism. You can make a scene come to life in so many techniques in oil paint.
Arron: Besides the grueling workout that is creating art, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Vicky Xiao: I’m a huge science geek! I spend a lot of time helping out with science club at school and doing research on the history of my community, Mission-Cliff Bungalows. I also spend a lot of time gaming.
Arron: Who do you look up to as an inspiration figure/model as an artist?
Vicky Xiao: Stylistically, I’m a big fan of art nouveau artists like Gustav Klimt and Alphonse Mucha. These are two artists who are clearly technically talented, but also use symbolism and abstract images to convey thematic and emotional meaning in a way that pure realism can’t. Their art is surreal and dreamlike, but not so abstract that it becomes unrelatable. That’s a kind of balance that I strive to achieve in my art. As for a more modern example, I find a lot of inspiration in playing minimalist but atmospheric games such as Journey or Shadow of the Colossus.
Arron: Why did you ultimately choose the Higher Ground Café as your venue?
Vicky Xiao: We wanted a location that boasted a community feel (and offered great food too of course). It’s a very relaxed environment, tightly-spaced, with the number of chairs outnumbering the number of tables by far. It’s a favorite hangout spot for so many, and we are confident that many artists and museum viewers wove its atmosphere.
The Calgary Youth Art Exhibition is an excellent organization for any aspiring young artists to get involved with. Whether you are just beginning, or are a decorated veteran, be sure to get in contact with the Calgary Youth Art Exhibition. Also, be sure not to miss the artwork showcase at the Higher Grounds Café which will be premiering on August the 1st and running to August the 15th!
Check out the official website for more information!
