A Richmond teen is hosting an art exhibition alongside her students to raise funds for cancer research.
Tinklyn Xiang, a Richmond resident who teachers art from her home, is hosting an art exhibition titled "Speak with Art" on Aug. 8 to benefit BC Children's Hospital's cancer research.
The Grade 10 Magee Secondary School student has taught children's art for free since 2020. But during the pandemic, she met and taught a nine-year-old cancer survivor who "sparked her passion towards giving back to the community."
"At first I wanted to host an art class to mainly help kids around me get introduced to art," said Xiang.
She said meeting this student broadened her views of the bird and that she could turn her art classes into a way to help in some way to further raise awareness about cancer research while fundraising for it.
When her students' parents learned about Xiang's goal, they began donating $5 to the cause every time they brought their kids to class.
"I think it's this insight on not only donating, but giving back and providing the foundation opportunities from art classes.to help others," said Xiang.
She told the Richmond News that the exhibition is a way to provide a platform for her students to showcase their art in addition to her own work.
"This exhibition will show people how children explore with colour and how they express themselves in these colours," she said.
Despite being a "strong academic" student at Magee, academics just doesn't elude the same feelings that art has to her, explained Xiang.
"It's really just something that clicked with me from the very beginning and I hope other children can follow their passion in art just like me."
At the exhibition, there will be free art workshops for children and will continue fundraising for BC Children's Hospital on the day of the event.
Admission is free with the exhibit taking place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the NPC College of Arts and Design, 2110-8888 Odlin Cresc.
