Young artist seeks to further his education

He is the latest in a line of young art prodigies who seem to spring up from diverse environments countrywide… And today I took a good look at his work.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Growing up on the picturesque Placencia peninsula, nineteen year old Ernest Garcia has always tried to capture the beauty of his surroundings in his work. By all accounts, he has succeeded.

Despite the lack of any formal training, with the support of family and friends, Garcia?s artistic career has blossomed in Belize. But with a letter of acceptance into the Ontario College of Arts and Design in Canada, Garcia is determined to take his talent to the next level.

Ernest Garcia, Artist
?My teachers would get mad with me because I?m drawing during classes and stuff like that. But it was always a dream to go to an art school and now I?m been given the chance, so it?s a dream come through. It?s just now if I can make it there, if I raise the funds.?

And to help him do that, this month Garcia is holding an exhibition at the House of Culture in Belize City where visitors can view his work and make donations to his education fund.

Ernest Garcia
?If anybody wants to make a donation to this occasion, it would be good if they could either send a donation or purchase one of my cards or something like that. It would really help me out because this is a really big thing for me, it?s a dream come through, and the only problem that can keep me from making this dream come through is making the funds to go to the school.?

Garcia promises his ticket to higher education will be round trip.

Ernest Garcia
?I got to come back home. Belize is my home, Placencia is my home. And I know a lot of people, especially in the local villages, they never had chances or opportunities like this so my dream is to go out there, make the best of it, do as much as I can, learn as much as I can and bring it back and teach it to the younger kids who are trying art too.?

Three of Garcia?s original pieces on display are for sale.

The public is invited to meet the artist who, along with his art, will be at the House of Culture all day Wednesday.