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| Young Kosovo artists ready to embark on their own 1st Friday event for the first time. |
In
war torn Kosovo, after 10 years of rebuilding, the art culture
gradually takes form. Local art advocates recently traveled to Gjilan,Kosovo
to view the birth of visual arts in a culture that once lacked the
freedom of expression.
Young
Kosovoian high school students are embarking for the first time into
the world of fine arts. Up until now they had never realized that
being an artist was an option in life. Many of them had never seen a
single piece of visual art.
Drew
Parsons, a local art curator with
Drew-Jones Studio Art of Vancouver,
traveled to Gjilan, Kosovo with a group from the Mosaic Church in
Portland to observe this phenomenon. Parsons described a city block
full of coffee shops in Gjilan, one right after the other. Inside the
shops the walls are bare, not a single piece of visual art decorates
the businesses to welcome in customers. These are Empty walls
begging for color.
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| On the far right: Drew Parsons. They are all holding work by Kosovo Artist Jeton Muja. |
Parsons
explained that Kosovo's students are just beginning to feel
comfortable expressing themselves.
With less
than a handful of
theaters and
only one
art gallery,
a lack of accessibility in Gjilan offers very
little opportunistic settings for the growth of visual arts to seep
into the culture.
Freedom of expression is a luxury that can often be taken for granted here in the United States. Local
Vancouver coffee shops, libraries and restaurants would feel empty
without the embellishments of art on the walls. Art patrons may not
fully embrace how lucky they are to have this free form of visual communication
all around them because they are accustomed to its presence.
Art
is everywhere. Art moves in a cycle and rhythm in nature. Nature
presents an elegant and perfected example of the visual arts.
Unfortunately, the natural expression of art can be covered and
disrupted by unnatural acts of violence and war. Kosovo has felt
that heavy cloud for far too long. However, the residue of this pain
is subsiding and individuals from Kosovo are finally able to see
clarity apart from the wreckage.
Art revolutionizes the lives Kosovo's youth and empowers them to have a voice. Progressive change is in the works for Kosovo. There is an art specific high school for students in Gjilan to explore and learn the skill of fine arts. Also a visionary group runs a community center in Gjilan that encourages visual art expression. In the community center they are creating a gallery space in which the local people may display their work.
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| Parsons taught an art class to Kosovo students. |
Citizens
of Kosovo have grown up with the fear and control of constant war.
Some know the pain through their parents’ eyes and as a result,
many young people have learned to keep quiet. In this way, learning
to communicate through art, for Kosovo's people, is like learning to speak
for the first time.
Gallery 360 in Vancouver, WA is currently displaying art work by Kosovo students during the months of February and March 2012. The Kosovo art pieces speak volumes of emotion. One piece by a young artist, Albesa Aliu, shows a girl behind what looks like bars and the words "I want freedom" are visible. The reality behind those words are real to the youth in Kosovo as they are seeking freedom. According to Drew Parsons, Albesa Aliu expressed that she personally seeks freedom as a woman, freedom from cultural expectations on her gender. The call for independence seems apparent in the Kosovo student's artworks, they are pioneers in a new era.
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| Art piece far right done by Artist Albesa Aliu. " I want freedom" |
Locals in the Clark County area
are encouraged to visit Gallery 360 to
view this work on display through March 24th. The young
artists from Kosovo are unique in the sense that they have little
outside art influences. They now have the freedom to tell their story
through their art expressions. They share with the world a glimpse of
Kosovo.
For
more information:
Gallery360 & Mosaic Arts Alliance
111 West 9th Street Vancouver, WA 98660
Hours: Wed.-Sat. 12-5p.m.
Drew Parsons
DREW-JONES STUDIO ART
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