Water for Life flows through children’s art
Sonia Wilkinson could only sit back and smile.
“She’s driving this bus,” Wilkinson said as 10-year-old Ella Rizzuto of Niagara Falls worked on a piece inspired by the importance of clean drinking water for Canada’s Indigenous people.
“Ella has done a really great job thinking about the project and the message she wants to relay,” Wilkinson said.
The pair were working together at the Water for Life children’s art workshop Saturday in the LaMarsh Room at Niagara Falls Public Library.
Ella had decided she wanted to portray the plight of the Indigenous community living at the remote Attawapiskat reserve after seeing news reports detailing the lack of clean water for the residents living there.
“They can’t even have a shower because the hot water opens of their pores and the chemicals can get in their body,” she said. “Chemicals that can cause cancer and so many other diseases.”
Wilkinson said Ella is a great example of how art can empower children and give them a voice.
“A lot of kids grow up and use art as a way of expressing themselves,” she said. “For me, one of the good things is learning how to be creative. You are in control.”
Saturday’s workshop was the last one of the summer, said Water for Life artistic director Antoine Gaber.
“By the end, 120 children will have taken part,” he said. “We will do more in the fall. We’ll be working with the school boards once the kids are back in school.”
All of the artworks created by the children who took part will be included in exhibits at the library, Niagara Falls History Museum and Niagara Falls Children’s Museum, Gaber said.
A panel of judges will select 10 to be showcased in venues across Florence, Italy, as a part of events in November marking the United Nations World Day for the Rights of Children.
In addition to Wilkinson, a number of artists from across Niagara have served as mentors for the program. Artists were selected as the results of their works exhibited at shows at the Bell Tower Community Arts and Entertainment Complex in Fort Erie.
Niagara Falls, which hosted an exhibition curated by Gaber last year at Niagara Falls History Museum featuring artists from around the world, is a logical place to host such and exhibit as well as the program for kids, Gaber said.
“The reason why I started Water for Life here is because 20 per cent of the fresh water in the world flows through Niagara Falls. We are the epicentre.”