INNISFAIL – Mya Burton was giddy with excitement with the very first public showing of her art.
She is just 15-years-old and a Grade 10 student at Innisfail High School but her intelligence and maturity more than make up for her youthful age.
“I'm so excited. I hope to work with the art club a little bit more. I love meeting the people,” said Mya. “And I think to me it was surprising how many artists are just in Innisfail that I wouldn't have even thought to look for.”
Mya does come from talented stock. Her father Robert is the art and drama teacher at Innisfail High School.
She entered the showing stage of her artistic journey at the annual Innisfail Art Show and Sale at the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre on Nov. 15 and 16.
A total of 26 artists showed their work, including Mya and local Grade 11 students En Vezina and Taylor Laidlaw.
All three students are members of the Innisfail Art Club.
Mya had three pieces from a trio of disciplines on display at the recent shows.
There was a text in ink portrait made from hundreds if not thousands of words layered on top of words, a water colour of a church, and intriguing polymer clay earrings that hung from 45 rpm vinyl records.
“I think for the last couple days I've thought that it's weird that my pieces are in here because I'm not an artist. I just make art,” said Mya. “But working with my dad and seeing all of these artists around me. I have made something new in a way which I really like, and especially something I get a chance to spend a lot of time on.”
Despite submitting the three pieces from different disciplines Mya hopes one day to find her own distinct niche in the art world.
“I'd like to. I've been sculpting for a long time, and dad always says it's easier to draw something once you've sculpted it,” said Mya. “I found that starting with sculpture and moving into the text and ink and drawing and painting you get a really good idea of how things are 3D, which I think has benefited me as (I’m) somebody who likes being able to touch things.”
Wilma Watson, president of the Innisfail Art Club, said the club is encouraging the younger generation to get involved in art.
“To encourage younger people to join the art club and get involved in art we've got a family membership,” said Watson. “And so we have families, and that includes some of the youth that are coming into the art club.
“I think that's how the art club continues to grow, by investing and starting to look at opportunities to help our youth get involved in the arts,” she added. “And if we don't do that, then we’re just a bunch of old people that aren't going to make it.
“Our theme this past year has been growing together, and that's growing with young people, growing with our own talents, growing the art club, and just doing better as an art club, and as an outlet within Innisfail for other people.”
Watson said the club has seen steady growth. Today there are 72 members, compared to just 22 five years ago.
“I'm really thrilled with where we're going and what we're doing. We put a lot of emphasis this year on getting a logo to put in place,” said Watson. “This is who we are. This is what we're doing. We put a lot of the foundational work in place to carry the art club forward.”
