Young Cayo artists display talent in city
On the stage, on canvas and with words … Belizeans have proven their natural talent for the arts time and time again. But with many schools already faced with limited resources, organised classes are few and far between. But as News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports, one rural institution’s efforts to pursue art education have paid off in a special way.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Before today, some of these children had never been to Belize City, but art is opening all sorts of doors for the teenagers from Cristo Rey Village in the Cayo District.
Under the direction of artist Winsom Winsom, the boys and girls made their own paint, picked up discarded lumber, collected scrap paper and nails, and combined the materials with their raw talents. The resulting installations, paintings, paper-mâché and nail art have earned them a showing at the Image Factory Art Gallery.
Anna Aldana, Principal, Cristo Rey RC Primary School
“They have become very interested in arts and before when they were not so outspoken. Now they are able to speak out and say how they feel about something, especially when they are working with arts.”
Yasser Musa, President, NICH
“We can’t get caught up in this whole art system; it’s a kind of mafia if you think that you have to go to a university, you have to get certain technical training. Art throughout history comes from the spirit of people, it speaks to the soul of a nation, and I believe that what we saw in Cristo Rey, at least what I saw in Cristo Rey, showed that this is the true art of a country; kids being motivated by a teacher.”
“Parents, teachers, principals are coming around to the formalisation of art, that it has to play a structured role in the development of the child.”
“I want to encourage other schools to come and visit our exhibition because it certainly is an eye-opening experience to see a collective effort from another part of the country and we don’t get a chance to see this everyday.”
For Principal Anna Aldana, the positive effects of art should be encouraged in schools countrywide.
Anna Aldana
“I would say that students who have a problem with reading, math and if they have that, if they are inspired through arts, I think they can be good artists in the future and they can prosper. So we just want them to be proud of themselves and what they do.”
The school is currently fundraising to build a centre dedicated to the arts in Cristo Rey Village. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.
If you would like to make a donation to the Cristo Rey art centre, please contact Anna Aldana at the Primary School or the San Ignacio branch of Scotiabank.
