If you check out UFV’s S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery between now and Apr. 7, you will be able to immerse yourself in the works of the two artists graduating this semester with a visual arts diploma, Noelani Leon and Aislynn Davey, in their show Divining Helios. The gallery is packed full of the best pieces they created over the course of the past two years, with assignments and passion projects using media of all kinds. It is an excellent example of the vast portfolio of art that students can create during their time as students in the School of Creative Arts (SOCA) at UFV.
As the only two graduates from the visual arts diploma program this semester, Leon and Davey had the gallery all to themselves and used the space as fully as they could — yet they still had to take out many pieces because there were just too many to choose from. Davey thanked SOCA faculty members Davida Kidd and Chris Friesen for their help in narrowing down the pieces and deciding the layout for the show, as well as Aimee Brown who helped with all of the lighting.
“All four of us came together and laid everything out and we had to eliminate a lot of pieces,” said Davey. “There was a lot of work. They said that this is one of the most packed shows the gallery has had.”
The pieces range from assignments that they did in their very first semester of school, up until their keystone pieces; this allows viewers of the gallery to see just how far the students have come and the advancement they’ve made as artists.
The piece in the show that Leon was most proud of was a giant self portrait that symbolized the rut that we all found ourselves in during the pandemic.
“It represents how the pandemic has affected me, because I’m sure it’s affected everyone differently, but I found that I kind of lost track of the days as I was staying inside all the time,” recalled Leon. “It’s repetitive, like in the background there’s a bunch of calendar pages that all say the same day. It’s all February 2, which is Groundhog Day. It’s kind of like the trauma of experiencing the pandemic and the anxiety of it, but also coping with humour. Like the movie Groundhog Day, every single day felt the same for me. I thought it was cool to integrate that into a self-portrait.”
Divining Helios uses imagery of tarot cards, an aesthetic Leon and Davey chose as symbolism for imaging what the future holds for them as artists and welcoming the new journey that is to come.
So, what does the future hold for these two budding artists?
“I’m probably going to just continue making art as a hobby,” said Leon. “[I’ll] try to do some freelance work, build a career for myself, and continue practicing and mastering my skill.”
Davey might pursue her Bachelor of Fine Arts, or try to get into movie set and prop design.
When asked what advice they would give to students who are just starting out and entering the Fine Arts program, Davey responded, “Don’t sit next to someone and compare your work to them.”
Leon offered, “Definitely embrace the process of learning instead of being frustrated with where you are; just think about how it’s going to help you in the future as you continue on and stay hopeful.”
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.
