Markham Creates

Submission - Karim Hassam

Artist Name: Karim Hassam Title: Medium: Acrylic Artist Statement: I am an amateur artist in Markham, passionate about acrylic abstract painting and fluid art which I discovered last year.

My Niece's Dog - Simon Seto

Artist Name: Simon Seto Title: My Niece's Dog Medium: Pastel Artist Statement: I'm a self-taught retiree. My 1st artwork is a watercolor (12"x16" ) painting of a "Girl visiting the McKay". My 2nd is a pastel (11"x14") painting of my niece's dog. My goal is to paint "beautiful" artworks enough for a solo exhibition someday! Cheers!

Alicia Keys - Celeste Cameron

Artist Name: Celeste Cameron Title: Alicia Keys Medium: Acrylic Artist Statement: I create art because it allows me to develop connections and share my thoughts. After 80+ hours of work, this painting displays a dialogue between 2 of my favourite artists: Kehinde Wiley & Alicia Keys, in order to empower and uplift black women like me.

Submission - Laiba Farhan

Artist Name: Laiba Farhan Title: Medium: Acrylic Artist Statement: Hi, my name is Laiba Farhan and I'm a 14 year-old who's passionate about art.

Submission 3 - Bianca Huang

Artist Name: Bianca Huang Medium: Water Colour Artist Statement: The natural harmony and beauty of our environment and wildlife is what inspires me most to create art. These art pieces are meant to embody the joy and various expressions exhibited by nature's inhabitants and the importance of our role in safeguarding it

Dhara Bharanitharan

Wall of Art with Maple Leaves

Juanita Castro - Markham, Our Home, Our History

Thank you Markham for being part of my family's history in Canada. I only have words of gratitude to Markham, the city that as an immigrant family received us with its supportive people and secure environment. Once my parents knew about Markham by all moving to Canada two years ago, they happily decided to make it our home. A place they were sure my sister and I could be raised within a great and positive environment. This quarantine time has allowed me to value our neighbourhood, Cornell, in Markham. Being surrounded by all its nature that has been greatly preserved and respected, inspired me greatly as an artist. Walking safely with my family in Markham's streets and parks makes me value our freedom as immigrants. In Markham, we've found people's generosity upon our adaption, as well as the great organization in the city that promotes our citizen principles.

Frances Yoong

There are 89 flowers here. Since the emergency order started on March 17 in Ontario, I crochet a flower for each day we stay home until now. I feel like we have to do something to remember this difficult time in 2020.

What to wear

A series of fashion illustration that explores each person’s story and show how what we choose to wear reflects ourselves and our relationship with everything around us.

Chloe Lee

Seasons - Ashley Tjon-Hing

Artist’s Statement: I write because it’s fun; I can create a whole new world for my readers to experience life through my own eyes using words on a page. I think anything can be challenging to write. But once you find your direction, the ideas just keep flowing. I hope to connect to others with my works, and help them find themselves. Seasons A new town, a new place; A home unlike before. Green fields, farm land; A new front door. Still a greenhorn in town; Just a few years old. Still upset with my parents That our old home was sold. A new school, new neighbours; Time to make new friends. I wonder if I’ll adapt To the different trends. Years later the town grows; No longer a town, but a city. More shops, more homes, And more trees to make it pretty. A few close friends And a summer job; A secret crush That makes my heart throb. Now older, maybe wiser, I strive towards my dream. With hopes that things Will be easier than they seem. My crush, now love Now bound to me forever We promise each other To always be together The sickness is sudden Our situation dire As he rests in bed I begin to perspire. A loss so great; I wonder if I can move on? My tears run dry At the break of dawn. I stand back up That’s what he’d desire. I steel myself And relight the fire. I try and try, But again I fall. But I don’t give up And give it my all. I take each opportunity And as many they come I’m grateful this place Has many to drum. Through hardships and pain I work towards my goal With support from my city I let the ball roll. The air is frigid But still I persevere. Although I’m afraid, I throw away my fear. In the end I’ve done it I can’t believe it’s true; I’ve found my place In this home, anew.

Dhara Bharanitharan - Marina

Marina - Written by Dhara It is a sunny morning and clock was ticking 6.00am. Lot of people going walking on road, lot of car, ambulance, police, fire trucks sounds, lot of kids playing sounds in the parks and all tall buildings. In one of the tallest building , on the 30th floor, there lived a girl named Marina. Marina lives in a tall apartment home located near Sheppard and Yonge intersection. She is 6 years old , studying in Grade 1 with her favourite colour as light pink. She is short, not tall and brings always smile in others face because she always keeps her mouth as smiling mouth. Marina is kind girl and loves her family very much. Her dad is fun and playful all the time. Her mommy is helpful and kindful but most of all she likes the hugs and kisses they both would give. Marina also has a baby brother and he is always naughty, fun to play with him. Marina loves to go school everyday without fail since she feels school is place to have learning with fun. Her teacher name is Ms.Lavender. Marina did her daily schedule at school itself. It is mentioned to have some reading. Marina lovers to read all types of genres but most liked ones are comics and funny stories. Her teacher told to read a non fiction book but sadly she did not know what a non-fiction book. so she asked her teacher and her teacher explained Marina about non fiction. On and On days passed by until on day there was an assembly, Marinas day and mommy were there. When the teacher announced the name of the people who are getting awards. Marinaʼs name was called out. Marina was happy and she had such a big smiling face. When Marina was holding the award, her mommy and daddy were happy and taking pictures. After which Marina was walking with her mommy and Daddy. Her mommy told that they have a surprise for her when they reach home. When they got home, Marinaʼs father told her that We are moving to new place. Marina was shocked, surprised, big smile and was so happy to see the new place but Marina would have to say but to her friends and teachers. Marina still wanted to know about new place so that she can tell her friends and Mommy told here that they are moving to Markham. So before the moving day, Marina made sweet cards and nice presents for her classmates and to her teacher. She still needed to ask her dad something else. Yes it is the same question in your mind. Why do we have to move ? Her daddy told that we have to move because then we will need more space as family is bigger now, study room for Marina, play area for baby brother. Ohh yea said Marina and she was thinking that when she moves then she needs to go to a new school. Marina moved to new place and she was excited about each & every thing. Markham because her exploring place since it had very close park, school, shops, good place to ride cycle, long walk near the lake, small running near the rail track. Marina enjoyed herself by exploring nature a lot in Markham. When Marina joined new school, she is now in Grade 2 and no friends. Marina entered the doors of her new school with the hope of making new friends and see what Markham school bring her with fun. She did not have any friends and slowly got use of it. Her teacher Ms.Posie showed her the school around a bit but suddenly a girl said “Hi..” I am Mia and asked me Whats your name ? Marina introduced her and that moment changed everything for her. Both of them are best friends till now. They played together, talked lot of things together, lot of teamwork fun plays were done with her. Marina was so happy since Markham showed her nature beauty , new experience and made new friends and her best friend Mia. Everything was happy until Mia told that she is moving to a new place. Marina felt very sad because Mia is her best friend but Marina understood that she is going to new place and will be happy there too. Marina Mommy explained about changes that will happen to everyone and we need to adapt quickly and easily. Marina made a friendship card and gave to Mia with big hug. She made new friends and they are also nice to Marina. But then came CoVid-19 virus and it made to be in home and only home. Marina did not go to school or to play outside in parks. Marina followed the rules to stay away from crowd but we wanted something to keep us busy so we started taking photos. We took so much photos and some of them were nature photos, some of them were crafty photos, some of them were insect photos and some of them were animal ones. The animal photos took forever because you can never get a great shot but we did. It was fun having a hobby. It was a great experience doing all these fun stuff and going out for tiny walks with my family. While she was walking then she saw a board and her mommy said about the competition on story writing. Marina shared all her stories from old place to new place, old friends to new friends, from new classroom to now new google classroom. Marina thought life is full of changes and lets make fun stuff with new new things. She completed the Marina book story and was waiting what this story book is going to bring change to Marina. ******************************* THE END********************************* Dhara - Grade 3, Markham Hi I am dhara and 8 years old an in grade three.I wanted to write this story because I really like writing stories and it was a very great topic . I also had a great time writing this story because I am like telling about what happened before day and I really liked thinking about what happened before this day .It reminds me of my friends and other stuff.

Poem - Yee Mai Ng

Decades ago across half of the globe i flew A place of freedom and liberty i sought To a place of my dream i found Under the same sky of blue i landed A home in a street under the canopy of history i stayed In a piece of enchanting land a land intertwined with modern and old a land with skin of all tones aglow Between trees among the green geese chant and scroll Down in the swamp underneath the duckweeds turtles whirl with joy and bliss Along the forest Rouge river sinuously snaking around in its softest sound a lullaby whispering in our ears soothing us to sleep as the moonlight lit When my face wrinkles as the land twinkles hand in hand we hold souls and land together we grow old Decades ahead it will stay nurture all the souls they lay in this beautiful piece of land named Markham Artist Statement : I like to write poems, and especially six-word poetry. I found out this contest just a week before the deadline. I stirred up my inspirations and started to put the words into a poem. This poem is about myself and Markham. It is a place which I have chosen to be my home, a place I have been staying for decades and a place I love: “landed, rooted; my home, a haven.”

Time Doesn’t Change — Spoken Poem

My name is Ananiya Narmathan and I enjoy writing poems to convey my thoughts and emotions. During this COVID-19 pandemic, I have felt a mix of emotions. I have wrote this spoken poem to open the jar of emotions Inside of me regarding the lockdown and how I feel living in Markham during the lock down. I hope you enjoy the poem and perhaps you may even connect to it. Stay safe everyone! This is the link to my spoken poem on YouTube... https://youtu.be/BPjJwT6q5ls

Four Sonnets - Branden Thomas Floydrennie

Artists’ Statement These four sonnets are the latest in my growing body of work in the sonnet form of poetry. My overall body of work in this form is over eighty pieces strong. These latest four were written in late January 2020. -Branden Thomas Floydrennie On Glibness How can you be so glib about your hands? Those, I have waited long to once more hold. A siege of years, a starving steady man Asking you to concede what others stole. If chat was pulse, I'd know each thump and beat If your pictures were jewels, I'd choose your rings. To feel your fingers, cross in mine, to meet, How empty it all seems without that thing. Shall I say that your hands are like success: Deft, strong and un-compared for what they grasp. Maybe I like them more, you like them less? Maybe you hate them until they've got mine clasped. To holding hands there is no synonym. I blush about your most sensitive limbs. About the Moon How much like the moon I see I am. Cycling through all and nothing, I appear. How much like an astronaut you'll be: Bringing a flag where sands are virgin clear. For you I must seem something like the moon: Distant force and fading from bright to black. Facing you, tranquil, countless mapped out wounds. My behind matches, but you'll never see my back. Haven't I done better than extremes? Questing after, patterns, stories, middles? Quietly more than simply 'is' or 'seems' My love for you a backwards facing riddle. Touch down on me, put kisses on my face I've orbited you with moon matching grace. About the Holy Ghost The apostles, transformed on Pentecost Frightened, called the fire a holy ghost. Today much of the servant Kings are lost What is kept, precisely: words they boast. The business of a haunting ghost, deceased Is all like Hamlet's father, doom bespoke Except the heart of Jesus never ceases Yet, disappeared, this holy ghost evoked. If we'll suffer this while we're still young: Out flesh so separate, nothing there to hold, Then let me put the fire in your tongue My ghost making your words poltergeist bold. Holy beauty, holy voice, holy mind Sharing this with Apostles is divine. The Garden Rose The way a rose bloom’s, summer, in full sun Will vex you with six feet or more of thorns Hired gardeners liable to damage sums At pruning time, if petaled heads are torn. Yet if your love's a rose (a good conceit- It has more thorns than clipped and sold you'd guess) I'd love the Garden Rose in its dirt seat And Wade into the thorns to prune it best. Am I a garden rose inside your heart? Towering above the shrubbery of 'friends' Tendrils shooting creeping thorny growth With blossoms blushing red up at their ends. Call me your garden rose and brave the thorns Tend to me so my bloom exceeds the horns.