Student art at House of Culture
It may be the busiest venue for exhibitions in Belize City, and once again, there is a new show on at the House of Culture… this time featuring students. And once again, viewers will be impressed by the promising talent of our young people.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
As part of the second annual art competition for secondary and tertiary level students, this week, more than forty exquisite examples of artistic talent are currently on display at the Belize City House of Culture.
Tasked with the challenge of judging the event was artist Charles Chavannes.
Charles Chavannes, Art Show Judge
?There are no two ways about it, there were a couple of artists that submitted here that had outstanding pieces and their work was obvious. What I do is I walk around and get a first impression of the ones that are up on the wall and I tag them, and I go back and I look at them and I ask myself why I like the particular picture that I like. And from there I begin to narrow down to technique, creativity, stuff like that.?
Standing clearly apart from the work of his peers, the pieces submitted by University of Belize student Javier Alvarez has claimed top honours in several categories.
Javier Alvarez, Artist
?I really do this for practice. I did these more or less in December, between December and March, in some free time.?
According to the twenty-nine year old Colombian native, his work today is the product of countless hours of concentration over the past two decades.
Javier Alvarez
?For me this is easy because I have worked since I was seven years old, so I am accustomed to working almost everyday. To be an artist is not easy, it?s not a matter of taking a course for one month, already you are an artist. No, you have to practice every day.?
Charles Chavannes
?I maintain always that Belize people have, or everybody basically has the capacity to do the best work that you can possibly imagine. The people that have submitted works here today have taken themselves to a much higher level than those of us who don?t normally draw all the time. There are a couple of examples that I?m sure you are going to demonstrate that are really incredible pieces.?
Other students awarded for their artwork were Rafael Sho, Samira Hutchinson and Roy Tzib of the Belmopan Comprehensive School. For their efforts, the winning students were awarded with sets of art supplies from sponsors: Stationary House, Angelus Press, and The Thrift Centre.
Other schools participating in this year’s National Art Competition were Gwen Lizarraga High and St. Catherine’s Academy. The event is organised by the Government House/House of Culture and the National Institute of Culture and History, NICH.
