Two Olds High School (OHS) students were given the chance to display their artwork during the 2019 Alberta University of the Arts Show Off competition and exhibition in Calgary.
The event, for students in grades 10-12, was held March 11-23.
OHS students Montana Durand, Grade 12, and Indianna Feswick, Grade 11, were among those who participated.
They were thrilled to be able to do so because this year, the competition and exhibition featured the work of high school students from across the country.
Feswick received honourable mention for her piece, which featured five dinner plates inspired by Japanese culture.
Durand's piece utilized brightly coloured shotgun shells arranged to make the head and shoulders — minus facial features — of a person with bright yellow hair. It's set on a collage of newspaper clippings of various stories of gun violence in the U.S.
Durand said it was deliberately meant to evoke U.S. President Donald Trump.
"It's more of a political statement for myself," Durand said during an interview with the Albertan."I've definitely been drawn into making a lot of pieces that are political statements recently. With the loose gun laws in the U.S., there has been a lot of gun violence and mass shootings.
"(I wanted to depict Trump) in regards to this issue because though he says he's going to do stuff about it it has not been evident that he's been making efforts to resolve such an issue," Durand said.
"And it was just a comment on how he says he's going to fight for the freedom of the States, he's never going to cross the second amendment, no matter who believes against it."
The second amendment to the U.S. constitution allows Americans the right to have guns.
"A lot of names have been kind of swept under the carpet because there really hasn't been a lot of presidential recognition about this issue," Durand said.
This is Durand's second time in the Show Off competition. She also entered when she was in Grade 10.
Durand plans to take a combined degree of arts and education at the University of Lethbridge next fall, so she believes the fact she was able to have her work accepted in Show Off will look good on her portfolio and resume in the future.
"I do plan to pursue art in different ways, no matter where it might take me," Durand said. "I'm kind of focused on perhaps becoming an art teacher, to have the same impact on the young youth and young artists of this upcoming generation as my teachers have (had) on me."
"My piece wasn't necessarily as profound as Montana's," Feswick said. "I started mine as a school project.
"Essentially I didn't necessarily add any meaning to it until I was writing the write-up.
"It's all about how technology has made it possible for humanity to experience different cultures without actually going to these places and yet they're being translated on to something as simple as clay dinnerware that we've used for ages."
Feswick said it's "crazy" that her piece did so well.
"I didn't actually necessarily think, like, 'oh, what am I trying to say?' I was just doing it instead of my lunch time. Instead of having my lunch period, a designated time to eat or study, I chose to do art instead," she said.
Feswick said OHS art and cosmetology teacher Renu Mathew made it easy for her to do so."She offered her classroom for me. I was the only one in there. I would just put on my headphones and get to work. And it was an amazing opportunity."
Feswick said she never really thought about pursuing art after high school. But now that's at least a thought.
"I always thought it was just something to do instead of my lunch time but now after experiencing (this), I love art galleries and I love that environment. I wouldn't say 'no' if another opportunity came up to do more pottery. I would love to expand my art, for sure."
She's doubtful she'd go so far as to become an art teacher though.
"I would love to volunteer my time. I want to pioneer, so help people improve their lives," Feswick said.
"Also, we both speak French, which is an amazing opportunity -- an amazing privilege that we both know this second language. So I'd like to have a job with people, because I love people. Be able to travel and use my second language, preferably.
"So we're both still trying to explore our possibilities and all of our options."
