I Have A Voice Arts Festival
March 7-April 12, 2021
Front Room Gallery is proud to present “I Have A Voice Arts Festival” in collaboration with the Cartwheel Initiative, a nonprofit that empowers disadvantaged youth through visual storytelling. The festival will encompass an exhibition, workshops and video messages from around the world. Showcasing artwork created by young people from various marginalized communities across the globe, the exhibition will give participants a voice and the opportunity to share their stories, concerns and passions.
“I Have A Voice Arts Festival” aims to raise awareness about their human condition and strives to connect them through stories of home, community, and identity. The festival provides additional support to participants through an in-kind grant of software applications to foster creativity.
We are pleased to organize the arts festival with the support of:
- Foundation of Goodness, Sri Lanka
- Slam Out Loud, India
- Mumbai Smiles, India
- Vidya, India
- Youth Potential South Africa
- Rock-Paper-Scissors Children’s Fund, Vietnam
- FutureConnect, USA
- Monde par la main / Give a Hand
The “I Have a Voice Arts Festival” will open Sunday March 7th at 9am EST online with opening remarks by Ashok Sinha, Cartwheel Initiative and Kathleen Vance, Front Room Gallery, followed by video messages from selected participants, and a spoken word workshop, “The Art of Play”* presented by Slam Out Loud.
image credit left to right: Huynh Phan Hoang Yen, Phạm Thị Thảo Trang, Nguyen Thanh Ngoc, Rakesh Kumar, Elzandre Abrahams
“I HAVE A VOICE ARTS FESTIVAL” SCHEDULE
SUNDAY MARCH 7th “I Have A Voice Exhibition” opens online
(frontroomLES.com/ihaveavoice)
SUNDAY, MARCH 7, 9AM (EST)
Opening Remarks, video messages and “Art of Play” spoken word workshop, presented by Slam Out Loud
REGISTER HERE
SUNDAY MARCH 21, 9AM (EST)
The Art Neighborhood Virtual Action Figure Workshop
PRE-REGISTER HERE
MONDAY APRIL 12TH
Launch of installation created from artworks created The Art Neighborhood Virtual Action Figure Workshop, presented by Lisa Ludwig
WEDNESDAY APRIL 14TH-MAY2ND
”I Have A Voice” exhibition presented by treat gallery
COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY
Ngo Quynh Phuong Dung, 16, Cam Hoa, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, “Childhood”
“Can’t never forget my childhood when I played folk games with my childhood friends. In the picture is the game named “who is cleverer” in which we played with sand balls. Now everything is just beautiful memories left in our hearts.”
Huynh Phan Hoang Yen, 16, Cam Thanh Bac, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, “My First Job”
“I had a part-time job for the fist time of my life 2 years ago. I went to work to earn some money so that I could buy gifts for my mother on “Vu Lan festival”- the time for people to show their gratefulness and appreciation to their mother.” This is the view I always saw when I had some break during my work. Very moving.”
Lam Thuy Phuong Truc, 12, Cam Duc, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, “My First Camping Night”
“This is the most unforgettable moment of my life when I went camping with my friends at the church. That was the first time I was away from home for one night. Most of the time, at night everyone had to go to sleep, but we were so excited that we stayed up all night long singing along with the guitar. I have still been keeping those good memories in my mind.”
Phan Ha My, 16, Cam Hai Tay, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam “Gender Equality”
“I have been always dreaming of a world where people live in peace no matter what gender they are; a world with no prejudice on LGBT group.”
"Sab Cheezo Ka Mol Bhav Hota Hai (Everything Has A Price)" - for the I Have A Voice Arts Festival
presented by Slam Out Loud
Don Seyara Dewlini Wickramasekara, 12, Hikkaduwa, Srilanka ”You will lose us with Plastics”
This is a haunting fear I have in my heart as a small girl. We live near the sea and I always come across many plastics thrown by people who come to enjoy the beach and sail in this beautiful ocean. Beach is a place where we spend a lot of family time and turtles are quite common in nature. Mangroves and other animals in jungles in Sri Lanka are threatened by this bad habit of people who throw different types of plastics to nature. My mom’s organization ‘Foundation of Goodness’ has shown us cleaning beaches and other places to say NO plastics to save the world which I also have taken part in saving nature. No more plastic and we save the world
Joy Yadav, 15, Mumbai, India, “Joy”
“I have prepared a small piece of Mandala Art; A Mandala is a Sanskrit work which means a circle, it is geometric design that holds a great deal of symbolism in Hindu and Buddhist culture. Mandala has a symbolic and meditative meaning beyond their vibrant appearance. The circles made of from dots and lines starting from the centre and spreading to all the sides. Very recently I have started practicing this art since Mumbai Smiles has organized a workshop for us and I find out very interesting since its need large amount of concentration and perfectness in each dots, lines and circles. If one dot, line or circle has not place at right place then whole picture can get damage and you may have to start working again. I like to do such kind to work where I do not have to talk much and need so much concentration. When I draw Mandala Art, my brain get complete relaxation and its give me the felling of meditation. I want to become an engineer and as I know that engineer has to drew a perfect picture or design of the thinks which he wanted to make, that is why like this art very much since it is also require the same. In the art, I have shown the process of how one caterpillar become a butterfly because I am also in same processes of development. Where I become a successful, confident, rich and a achieve of great life, which is my dream.”
Madduma Enderage Sakunthala Hansamali, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka, My Life Story”
“Coir industry is the main occupation of our parents, and it is not an easy job. Sometimes, they were unable to find enough money through this. But they worked hard, and also I supported them. In society, there was no respect for them because of their occupation. I thought there is only one way to rescue them from this bad situation. I should be an educated person and give some rest for their life. Therefore, I did my studies well and passed all the exams very well. Through that, I could bring a smile to my parents’ faces. Today, I am a teacher and graphic designer in one of the recognized institutes in Sri Lanka. My parents are happy today by looking at me, and now their life is better than in the past. Everyone is given their respect to us as well. Finally, in my opinion, how obstacles and difficulties come to our life, we should take all those things as our motivation and never give up our encouragement. We should win our life by achieving our aims and good values as well.”
Elzandre Abrahams, 8, Hankey, South Africa, “In My Classroom”
My name is Elzandre. I am 8 years old. I stay in Milton. I walk to Hankey Primary School. I am in Grade 3e. My favorite sport is netball and I love reading books.
Baby Khatun, 17, Mumbai, India, “A Lighting Lamp"
“The name of the art is “a lighting lamp”, which I have made out of unused waste materials. Which is easily get available in our homes. I have used a newspaper and other designing materials to make this lighting lamp. The basket in red colour under the balloon is representing Mumbai Smiles who have always help and support me in all the ways as much as they can. The white balloon is representing myself who want to fly up in a sky with lots of dreams. The light inside the balloon is again representing me and Mumbai Smiles where Mumbai Smiles spreading there light of education which is not only limited to regular school education but the education which actually enlightening my life. I also want to bling like a light inside the balloon by achieving a great success in my life and bling in darkness which surrounded around me. The day I have join the Mumbai Smiles, I have developed very strong believe and self confidence that I can break all the hurdles in my life and become a social worker and work for those women’s and children who are living under same situation, in which I am living in it. The situation and the area where I live it is very bed for the children especially for the girls and at same time it is difficult to come out from it.”
Hồ Thị Thanh Nhi, 13, Huế, Việt Nam, "Keep Coronavirus away"
I am taught at school to always keep my hands clean and wear masks to prevent Coronavirus from spreading. This painting is a reminder for us all about the right thing we should do.
Edirisinghe Arachchige Sajith Kumara Madhushanka, 12 Hikkaduwa, Srilanka, “Cleanliness is Next to Godliness.”
Nguyễn Đức Hải Trí, 13, Huế, Việt Nam, "My Family Lacks Laughter"
Family should be a place full of love and joy. No Children want to witness sorrows and pain in their family. A girl is sitting in a dark corner of the house crying because she can not do anything while her parents are fighting. Her dad is an alcoholic. Her mom tries her best to make the family a worthy place. As for me, Family is the most important place. I wish parents understand their children’s feelings. Children just want to live a normal life like the kids in many other families.
Phạm Thị Thảo Trang 17Huế, Việt Nam"Helping the flood victims"
The floods in Central Vietnam have just past but left severe impacts on our lives. Though much luckier than many, my mind still gets stuck with what I read and saw on the media. Thousands of people had to live on the edge with their house completely sunk in the ferocious water. However, there were good people out there who wouldn’t mind the danger to send help.
Phùng Thị Thu Hà,16, Huế, Việt Nam, "A corner somewhere for Chang and Phung"
What is your view about the best friendship? Many would think “a friend in need is a friend indeed”, a really important person, like when you are in troubles your best friend would stay by your side. As a shy person, I find it difficult to start a conversation with a stranger, so my friend list is much shorter than many others’. My perception about a good friend is also quite simple. My best friend, Chang, and I don’t have to try to keep in touch or meet each other very often. But every time we meet we wouldn’t bother saying hello but get down to eating while telling each other our own stories. It’s doesn’t matter how long we haven’t met, if we meet again it’s just like yesterday.
Kimberly Rivera, 13, New York, USA “Who am I”
“In this artwork, I wanted to depict identity. I wanted to depict this theme because many people are currently struggling with finding their identity. We are currently living in a world where you can identify yourself in many different ways but there are still many who wonder who they are and who are judged by society. In my artwork, I show how a person appears in their surroundings in contrast to how they actually feel on the inside. This person is wondering who they are and they want to know if someone can understand them.”
Nguyễn Thị Hồng Hoa, 13, Huế, Việt Nam, "Mom and Dad, Please Don’t Make Me Sad Anymore"
“When my mom and dad have a fight I feel so exhausted and desperate. I am really scared.”
Verodene Abrahams, 13, Hankey, South Africa, “My Class”
My name is Verodene Abrahams and I am 13 years old. I stay in Milton and I walk to Hankey Primary School. I am now in Grade 6. I like netball, playing and reading books. My favorite pet is a cat. I don't like dogs. This is our house. Myself, my mom, my brother and my sister live there. I enjoy living with my mom. We don't have a dad anymore, just our mother.
Laura Arellano, 13, New York, USA, “Hidden in the Strings”
“My artwork is about a person whose identity we don’t know (any and all genders). They are a maid but they are controlled by whoever they work for. They are like a puppet, they are not free to do what they want. They should be out there rather than being stuck inside with no escape. Maids aren’t being treated fairly, they aren’t able to speak up and say what they want to say. What this means to me is I believe that we all should be treated fairly and nobody should have to go work for a controlling person if they don’t enjoy it. So I decided to do this for them. I liked making this artwork. I enjoyed trying a different way to shade called “stippling.” I used a Micron pen for the dots and the outline.”
HOME
Anita, 13, Delhi, India “My City, My Dream”
Nguyen Thanh Ngoc, 12, Cam Duc, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, “Leaked Home”
“When I was young, my family lived in a collapsed house. ON rainy days the house often leaks and is very cold. So our family often wrapped a blanket together to sit together. Although it was very cold, but at that time my family was still very happy and happy. It is the best memory of my childhood.”
Rakesh Kumar, 11, Delhi, India “My City, My Dream”
Hendria Abrahams, 9, Hankey, South Africa “My Family House”
My home is big and nice. We are a big family, my dad, mother, sister, and uncle. My mother makes delicious food for us, I smile when I see it.
Soon, 12, Delhi, India “My City, My Dream”
Michelle Damons, 12, Hankey, South Africa, “ Our Home”
“This is our house and we have a big family living there, my mom, dad, 3 brothers and 1 sister. I am happy to stay together with them.”
Yasmeen, 12, Delhi, India “My City, My Dream”
Raymoline Felix, 12, Patensie, South Africa, “My Beautiful House”
“ I really enjoy our house. We have an apricot tree at our house. Myself and my dog like to walk in the street. I think our house is precious. My friends and I play nicely together.”
Arshat Kumar, 12, Delhi, India “My City, My Dream”
Curstian de Villiers, 13, Patensie, South Africa, “My Family Home”
“This is the street and the house we live in. It's going well in my street, but it is not clean. We love living in our house.”
Shabnam, 11, Delhi, India “My City, My Dream”
Sameer, 10, Delhi, India “My City, My Dream”
Luciano Nelson, 10, Patensie, South Africa, “Life On My Street”
“This is our street and this is my dog.”
Anuj, 10, Delhi, India “My City, My Dream”
Amber Prins, 11, Patensie, South Africa, “My Neighbor's House”
“This is my neighbor's house, there are 5 people in that home, dad, 3 girls and 1 boy. The dad lives in a different room that is adjacent to the house. They all complain
about the water quality, it tastes digusting, makes you more thirsty and gives you stomach pains. Our neighbors are very kind people, our families help each other and we are there for each other.”
Preethi, 11, Delhi, India “My City, My Dream”