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Stories become art at Terrace’s Skeena Diversity Society

This year’s Storytelling Images project connected 12 storytellers to six artists
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Artist Matthew Daratha (left) holds his painting for storyteller Cecilia Kim (right). (Saša Loggins/Skeena Diversity Society)

There were many smiles during Skeena Diversity Society’s virtual Storytelling Images Unveiling on Sept. 1.

The project connected local artists with people in Terrace who have diverse backgrounds, or are new to the city. Those ‘storytellers’ had conversations with the artists who then created paintings inspired by the stories.

Skeena Diversity hosted a video conference with the artists and storytellers, featuring recorded video introductions to give viewers some information about the project and those taking part. After that, the storytellers unwrapped the artwork together.

“2020 has definitely been an interesting year to say the least, and this is one of the bright lights and bright events I think that has allowed us to connect with each other in a very special and unusual way,” said Saša Loggin, project director, during the video conference.

This year, there were 12 storytellers and six artists. Loggin noted that while it was a little chaotic facilitating the event using technology, she was happy with how the unveiling turned out.

One of the participating storytellers, Cecilia Kim, said she was incredibly moved by the process.

“This painting is going to be with me forever, throughout my entire life, the connection between me and my artist Matthew is a never ending connection, I am going to remember him as my lifetime artist forever and really I cannot forget this moment,” Kim said when she unwrapped her painting by Matthew Daratha.

“It’s more valuable than the paintings in the famous museums like the Louvre or Metropolitan.”

An edited version of the event, as well as a three -minute trailer is view-able on Skeena Diversity’s YouTube channel.


@BenBogstie
ben.bogstie@terracestandard.com

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