Newcomer youth express their experiences through art

Did you know that the Kitchener city hall is home to two art galleries?

Hi, I’m Karoline Varin and I am the program administrator of arts & creative industries at the city of Kitchener. One of the programs I support is curating these art galleries: the Rotunda Gallery and the Berlin Tower ARTSPACE.

 Programming these spaces is one of my favourite responsibilities on the job: I get to meet and work with wonderful human beings – the artists - to curate and showcase their creations! The exhibiting visual artists create using a variety of media such as painting, photography, printmaking, and mixed media. The majority of artists are local, some have many exhibitions under their belt, and some are just starting out!

The Berlin Tower Artspace is especially dedicated to individuals or groups who are either just starting their careers or establishing careers in Canada as newcomers or are community groups looking for a public space to show artworks from the programs they deliver. Sometimes, I will work with other colleagues from the city to support partnerships. The current exhibit - Finding Our Place: A Journey Home - at the Berlin Tower Artspace, arose from such a partnership with the city’s Youth Services Department and the Reception House Waterloo Region

A bit about Reception House: it has existed in our region since 1985. It specializes in supporting government-assisted refugees in Waterloo Region with tailored programs and services designed to aid their resettlement and integration into the local community. Back in 2017, Pamela Rojas, a visual artist and muralist, founded the New Canadian Art Program. You might be familiar with her bright murals across the city. She works with youth ages six to 19 who have immigrated with their families from around the world. The weekly sessions provide a safe space to process their experiences, express their emotions, and build connections and resilience as they navigate the challenges of relocation, settlement, and adaptation.

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A bit about Reception House: it has existed in our region since 1985. It specializes in supporting government-assisted refugees in Waterloo Region with tailored programs and services designed to aid their resettlement and integration into the local community. Back in 2017, Pamela Rojas, a visual artist and muralist, founded the New Canadian Art Program. You might be familiar with her bright murals across the city. She works with youth ages six to 19 who have immigrated with their families from around the world. The weekly sessions provide a safe space to process their experiences, express their emotions, and build connections and resilience as they navigate the challenges of relocation, settlement, and adaptation.

As you walk into the gallery space, you may be stunned by two large sculptures built up with cardboard houses stretching upwards, right from the floor, depicting the difficult journey of the artists and their families as they build roots in their new communities. The space is filled with vibrant mixed-media collages, modeling clay self-portraits, and drawings inviting us to explore their new environments alongside the artists and works depicting their wishes and goals for their future in Canada.

For many, if not for all the youth, this may be their first exhibition in a public space. It honours their unique experiences and contributions, promoting integration and solidarity.

Berlin Tower ARTSPACE is located on the main floor of Kitchener City Hall. The gallery is open 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. on weekends and holidays. This exhibition ends on May 29, but the space features a new show every two months. I hope that you can visit!