Centennial Square Parkade Stairwell Public Art

Biography

Local artists Joanne Thomson, Jennifer Johnson, and Beth Threlfall were selected for their proposal in September 2015 to collaborate with youth to create a series of murals to beautify a city parkade. The youth artists appointed by the Victoria Youth Council were Jody DeSchutter, Owen Anthony Parnell and GaHwi Woo.

Resume

Jody DeSchutter completed an undergraduate degree in Visual Arts and minoring in Art History at the University of Victoria. She has worked at both the Lake Country Art Gallery and the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan which have solidified her immersion ignited a love and passion for sharing and collaborating with the community.

Owen Anthony Parnell is a Cree Metis artist and graduate of the Camosun College two-year intensive Visual Arts Program. He received scholarships to study aboriginal art for a summer at Emily Carr University of Art and Design (2010), and another scholarship to study mixed media and acrylics at Metchosin International Summer School of Art (2013). Owen has shown work with Open Space's Indigenous Youth Artist Showcase (2014), with PedalBox during the Integrate Arts Festival (2014) and was part of the youth team that created the Rock Bay Mural (2014). I apprenticed with the Coast Salish carver, Curtis Christie, and studied Native Art in High School with Alex Clark.

GaHwi Woo has always been a profound part in her life from sketching to acrylic. Woo won first place in the Writing and Arts Challenge War of 1812, and second place in B.C./Yukon Legion Coloured Poster Contest. She has been painting since age nine and has participated in the City of Victoria’s Youth Council’s Art Mentorship Program and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Open Door Access.