A group of young Jasperites involved in the arts have decided to act on their desire for more opportunities for cultural expression. On Sunday, January 29, the group, which is calling itself Modern Youth Jasper (MY Jasper) will be presenting its first show.

The show will incorporate live music, a fashion show and dancing, all in front of works of art by young Jasperites that will grace the walls of the Old Fire Hall.  

MY Jasper has been working towards this initial exhibition for the past two months, said Nailia Minnebaeva, the Grade 12 student who is taking the lead in organizing the group of youthful artists and performers.

“I was encouraged to come up with something after I observed that people at school are so limited in their choices for the arts in school and in the community,” she said. 

Many of the group’s leading members will be performing on Sunday, but MY Jasper is by no means an exclusive club, Minnebaeva said.

“It’s just for everyone who is willing to express themselves as an artist.”

MY Jasper members include Jeremy Rodger, Jordan Sales, Oliver Andrew and Allie Diamond who together make up the punk band, The Mission, the same group that put on a benefit for Santa’s Anonymous in December. The band will be performing at Sunday’s show. Other students involved in the group include  Jane Lee, Emi Fukushima, Jasmin Jouini, Katherine Vena, Calla Medig, and Masaki Sokomoto.

Supporting the young performers is Gregory Deagle of the Jasper Artists’ Guild.

“Naturally, I’m very excited about it,” he told the Fitzhugh, adding that he is hoping to act as a mentor to Minnebaeva and others.

“That really captures the way in which I’m involved with MY Jasper.”

Beyond mentorship, JAG is also helping by providing the performance space, and will continue to work with the group as it grows and develops, Deagle said. It’s a chance for a reinvigoration of JAG, he believes.

“In the very earliest stages of JAG we were supported by young people,” he said, speaking of the regular fashion shows that at one time were the group’s primary public activities. Nowadays, JAG is generally associated with visual art installations and exhibitions.

“In recent months we’ve really been mourning the loss of our youth movement,” Deagle said. “This is a vital way to keep the guild fresh.”

This first show will also provide a chance for JAG to recoup 20 per cent of the box office gross, although that arrangement will change for future events. Proceeds from tickets, which cost $10, will also go to covering the costs of the event and to provide some basic funding for MY Jasper’s future, said Minnebaeva.

The next fundraiser, tentatively scheduled for March, will see all the money raised going towards supporting the future education of MY Jasper members in the fine arts, music and performance.

There are 100 tickets available for Sunday’s show and they will be available at the Old Fire Hall from 4 until 7 p.m. on Saturday, as well as at the door on Sunday.