Some spectacular pieces were on display Thursday night for a Youth Art gala put on by the Drumheller and Area ASSET Development Coalition, but the focus was not just on creating the art pieces but on strengthening family and community connections.
The gallery space at the Badlands Community Facility has been donated for the cause by the Badlands Art Association and is filled with a variety of art in different mediums, from a welded rose to a painted walking stick, paintings, sculptures, and photography. On November 8 elementary and junior high students from Morrin, Delia, and Carbon schools came together with their families to celebrate their creations.
“It’s about prevention and promotion to get them connected to people in their lives so they can have those supports,” said organizer and Morrin school wellness worker Katie Suntjens.
The event is combined with National Addiction Awareness week happening later this month. The ASSET coalition consists of a number of partners from Drumheller and the surrounding communities and aims to promote supports in the community aimed at reducing risky behaviour or situations occurring with youth by fostering community connections. Members of the RCMP attended in Red Serge as well as representatives from Starland County and Drumheller councils.
Owen Phoenix, a grade 5 student in Morrin, won a couple awards that night for the metal rose he welded together with the help of his family.
“All my family helped except for my brother. I think it turned out greater than I hoped it would and I’m going to do it again,” he said.
Winners this year included, in the elementary category: Best Overall – Tia Van Bavel (Carbon School); Make the Most of You – Owen Phoenix (Morrin); Make the Most of Your Family – Kate Rice (Carbon); Make the Most of Your Community – Tia Van Bavel (Carbon). For junior high: Best Overall – Austin Armstrong (Morrin); Make the Most of You – Meghan McNaughton (Morrin); Make the Most of Your Family – Nathan Reding (Delia); Make the Most of Your Community – Taylor Macfarlane (Morrin). Carbon School was awarded a $200 classroom prize, and Owen Phoenix was voted in for the People’s Choice Award by the attendees.
The gala has been put on for three years now and sees a number of entries from rural schools around Drumheller, but did not receive any entries from valley schools this year. Entries have continued to become more complex and expand to mediums outside of paint or drawing. The pieces are on display at the Badlands Community Facility now.
