More than 150 works of art by children from around the world are on display at Fraser Valley Elementary for their first International Children鈥檚 Art Exhibition.
The multicultural show, which ran in Taiwan earlier this year, represents artists ages four to 15 from Taiwan, China, Thailand, Pakistan, Turkey, Jordan, Malaysia, Argentina, Vietnam and Canada, including 91原创 students Claudia Martinez, 9, and Cohem Labrecque, 8.
Curator Jackson Chien, director of the Chinese Culture Arts Association of Canada, has been collecting the art for more than a year in preparation for the show.
Following the theme 鈥淢y Hometown鈥� each piece showcases diversity in communities around the world, said Dr. Jan Walls, president of the Canadian Society for Asian Arts.
鈥淚t is very important for people to think about, what is unique about my place? Where do I come from? And we need to remind ourselves of that,鈥� he said during the opening reception on Dec. 11.
鈥淥therwise, if we don鈥檛, we lose diversity. And diversity is Mother Nature鈥檚 key to survival ... We need to emphasize both our similarities and our differences, because this is what makes a healthy, diverse global village.鈥�
One of the benefits of showcasing youth artists is their ability to create without limitations, said Chang Chun-Chieh, former curator of National Taiwan Arts Education.
鈥淐hildren鈥檚 art and education is like planting a seed for a tree or a flower,鈥� he said through a translator.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to control it, you want to let it grow. No matter what, it will grow on its own ... We shall continue to inspire and facilitate our next generation to head towards creativity and innovation.鈥�
The International Children鈥檚 Art Exhibition is in the gymnasium of Fraser Valley Elementary, 20317 67 Ave., and is open to the public for viewing from 4 to 6 p.m. until Dec. 18.
A catalog of the children鈥檚 work will also be published when the show is complete.
Fraser Valley Elementary Students Claudia Martinez and Cohem Labrecque were awarded certificates of exhibition participation at the International Children's Art Exhibition's opening reception on Dec. 11.
