Arts

My husband, Houssam, has been a professional artist for 15 years. His first experience in an art competition was here, in Gananoque, Ontario, Canada.

We are Syrian refugees who arrived from Turkey in September, 2018.  In April, Houssam entered the competition, named the Kingston Prize. This competition is for artists from across Canada. Over 500 artists entered the competition. Only 30 are selected as finalists. Houssam was one of those 30 finalists, I am so proud to say. Usually, the Kingston Prize is an art competition that is held in many places across Canada. Gananoque is usually the first city to hold the competition. This year, though, due to financial issues, Gananoque was the only town that this competition was held.

The painting he entered was a portrait . It is Canada's portrait competition of "Joyce". The style of portrait is hyper-realism, a new form of art, of Joyce, who is an 85-year-old woman. She is wearing a tinfoil crown representing a crown of rich memory at 85 years old that is reflected to us. Through the wrinkles in her face, we can see the wisdom and the experiences of her life. From her eyes, we can notice the beautiful soul that she has. And the people at the competition loved the painting and Joyce.

So Houssam won both the People's Choice Award and the Student's Choice Award. We were very pleased about that, because a lot of people were interested in Houssam's work which has encouraged him to do even more with his artistic skills. And we felt how much the people love him.

Now, we have many true friendships especially our friends who supported him to do his art even though the situation was difficult.  For example, as newcomers to Canada, he did not have a space to paint.  Fortunately, the owner of the gallery provided him a place. He had friends who helped marketing his art, and these people gave him the knowledge about the art situation here in Canada.

One of his friends and supporters is Joyce, the 85- year- woman, the model for Houssam's portrait . She told me that what happened for her was the most beautiful thing in her life. Joyce became part of our family, we were so close with her. We learned so much about her and she learned about us as well. The people in Gananoque started to see her differently. They recognized her lovely soul, how much she loves to help other people.  They did not see her as an 85-year-old woman.

Add to this, the people in Gananoque who were so honoured because it was the first time in nine years that one of the residents from Gananoque entered this competition which Gananoque hosts every two years.

Houssam also had good exposure through the media. For example, they did an article about him in the Globe and Mail.  Please go to the following website: www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/article-syrian-artists-work-adapts-to-a-new-reality 

He was also featured in Gananoque Now, www.gananoquenow.ca/2019/10/28/local-artist-takes-two-awards-at-kingston-prize-portrait-competition

He was interviewed on Syrian TV. Please watch: https://youtu.be/XZdUmsPcqCM 

That is a good start for him as a new artist in Canada, and he will have more opportunities in the future.  I believe he will be a successful artist in his new country, Canada.

Houssam has a website to show his art at:  https://www.houssamalloum.com. Please follow him and his successes!

Thank you.