Meet the 2024 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: Taba Dani, Zonghua Ai (NOISEmakers 2023 alumni), Alicia Guo, Lara Sturzenbaum, Sergei Tsimbalenko, Ilyes Chibane, Meng Gao, Heather Wilkenson (Wonder’neath), Amishi Vadgama (NOISEmakers 2023 alumni). Front row, from left to right: Diego Guerrero Betancourt, Amruta Dnyanmote (NOISEmakers Coordinator), Melany Nugent-Noble (Nocturne), Brigitta Zhao (Nocturne), Jessica Winton (NOISEmakers Facilitator Mentor), and Shreya Talwar (NOISEmakers Facilitator mentee).

Sergei Tsimbalenko (he/him) is a director and artist of the highest category and is a leading stage master. Sergei has had professional experience in the capital's Taganka Theater for over 20 years: had more than 2,000 performances on stage, including starring roles. Worked with world-famous directors such as Tadashi Suzuki and Yuri Lyubimov and directed two full-length feature films. Sergei became the winner of more than 20 film festivals around the world. He is an acting coach who developed his acting method, who also and published author.

Meng Gao (he/him) is a drama therapist and actor using the Galli Method ®. Meng has had over 2000 hours of workshop experience and hundreds of performances, along with career experience in comics, game design, film and theatre.

Lara Sturzenbaum, born in Río Gallegos, Argentina, began her journey in jewelry at twelve, mastering beading and later incorporating semi-precious stones and metals. In 2010, she founded her brand, Malercas, and in 2022 earned a BFA in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing from NSCAD University. Inspired by Patagonia’s landscapes, she blends traditional jewelry techniques with biomaterials coloured and textured with natural dyes.

Alicia Guo (she/her) is an artist, activist, and public relations practitioner from China based in Halifax. Her handmade jewelry business My Precious Plastic is popular in many markets. Her art expresses a unique experience of marginalization as well as the idea of sustainability.

Diego Guerrero Betancourt (he/him), born in Caracas, Venezuela, is an actor, director, and producer with a prolific career in theater, film, and television. With a background in Social Communication and Audiovisual Media, he has worked on international and local productions in Venezuela, Mexico, Spain, and the Czech Republic. Recently, he created a coloring book about Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he also continues to actively contribute to the local theater scene.

Taba Dani (he/him) began his academic journey in philosophy at the age of 18. After delving into general philosophy, he expanded his studies to the philosophy of art, exploring both modern and contemporary Western art, as well as traditional and modern arts from Iran and the broader Middle East. His career in video and graphic advertising content production not only honed his creative skills but also deepened his understanding of how to convey clear messages through creative content. Now in his late thirties and as a newcomer to Canada, Taba is eager to create artworks and share the ideas he has nurtured over the years.

Ilyes Chibane (he/him) is an architectural technologist who graduated from architecture school and immigrated from Algeria to Canada in 2022. Urban sketching is Ilyes' primary artistic outlet, inspired by interest for urban and architectural heritage, showcased in various exhibitions. One of his favorite places to hangout is the Halifax Central Library, especially the Lou Duggan Studio, where Ilyes got introduced to printmaking that they try to incorporate with urban sketching. Their other main hobbies are playing piano and composing music.

NOISEmakers 2024 Facilitator Shreya Talwar (she/they) identifies as an interdisciplinary artist and loves working with art as a medium in community spaces via the diversity, equity, and inclusion lens. She finds liberation in embracing art as a means of "expression and connection.” Her artistic journey is deeply rooted in her commitment to building community through art. She sees art as a potent medium for fostering connections and providing vital spaces for meaningful engagement, thought-provoking conversations, and unbridled exploration leading to a deeper understanding of the intricate layers that define both our inner selves and the world that surrounds us. Shreya gravitates towards conceptual art as her main avenue of self-expression, channeling it through abstract forms and diverse mediums.

Shreya’s artistic journey is further enriched by her roles as an entrepreneur, educator, energy healer, Shamanic Practitioner, and Psychic Medium.

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