Meet the 2023 NOISEMakers!

NOISEmakers is a summer art workshop series brought to you by Nocturne, ISANS and Wonder'neath. The project, funded by the Province of Nova Scotia, is an opportunity to build belonging, strengthen connections, and create art in public spaces with Newcomers and Immigrants. Each year, we organize a new way to connect cross-culturally and use art as a catalyst for connection here in Mi'kma'ki.

Back row, from left to right: Svilen Petrov, Antonio Rosa, guest speaker, Funmilayo Odeniyi of MichNat Fashion, Zonghua Ai, Hanna Koval, Shreya Talwar, and Melissa Marr (Wonder’neath). Front row, from left to right: Heather Wilkenson (Wonder’neath), Melany Nugent-Noble (Nocturne), Amruta Dnyanmote (NOISEmakers Coordinator), and Leonardo Moura. Missing from photo: Amishi Vadgama).

This year, NOISEmakers is hosting seven artists to develop a project that will be shown at the Prow Gallery as part of Nocturne on Saturday, October 14, from 6:00PM-midnight:

Amishi Vadgama is a creative textile artist with a background in design who works with various materials through crochet and embroidery techniques to embellish a surface. Amishi uses various colours in their work and creates layers of textures through the yarn. Her art is inspired by the traditional Indian craft of the Indigenous communities with whom she has worked for the past ten years. Amishi has a Master's Degree in Design and also actively enjoys taking workshops.

Shreya Talwar is an interdisciplinary artist who finds liberation in embracing art as a means of "expression and connection," transcending the confines of labels. Art, culture, identity, and spirituality are deeply intertwined in Shreya's world, forming an intricate tapestry that inspires her work as a queer artist. Shreya finds profound resonance in the intersectionality of these themes, where their harmonious convergence gives birth to a rich and diverse tapestry of expression. Through her art, she strives to capture the essence of this interplay, shedding light on the beauty and complexity that arises from their interwoven threads.

Antonio Rosa is an art director and has been working in advertising for over 20 years. About seven years ago, Antonio started his journey in product design, focused on creating lamps made of copper, wood, and cement. Antonio is originally from Brazil.

Svilen Petrov is a professional artist with a Master's Degree in Sculpture. He has been in Canada for four years.

Leonardo Moura is an art designer, painter, and engineer. He is eager to start interacting with other artists and immersing himself in art-related activities to spark new ideas and reignite his creative energy to explore uncharted territories within his art practice.

Hanna Koval is a Ukrainian artist and a teacher with an academic background. She is ready to meet local artists, visit galleries, and learn from others. Hanna hopes to learn about Canadian portfolio requirements and understand how she can benefit the Nova Scotia community by working here as a professional artist.

Zonghua Ai is a Chinese food scientist and crafter who just finished studying at Dalhousie University. She makes inlay bone jewellery and participated in Nocturne 2021 with the piece Leftover Soup. She is interested in the relationships between Chinese immigrants and Mi'kmaq, especially in traditional food/medicine knowledge exchanges.

The NOISEmakers program is made possible with the generous support of our partners: