Meet the 2025 NOISEmakers

NOISEmakers: Ground

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.

This year, seven newcomer artists have been selected to take part in the 16-week program. Featuring workshops from professionals across the arts sector, as well as dedicated time in the studio at Wonder’neath, participants will not only learn from those established in the field, but importantly, they will also learn from and with one another as a cohort.

Responding to the theme of Ground, participants will create a collective project to be showcased during Nocturne’s signature Art-at-Night festival on Saturday, October 18th.

Facilitator Mentee, Meng Gao

We are excited to welcome back 2024 NOISEmakers alum Meng Gao as this year’s NOISEmakers Facilitator Mentee. Working alongside the NOISEmakers Coordinator, the Facilitaor Mentee position is an opportunity to develop leadership and facilitation skills while forming meaningful connectios with the new cohort.

Olena Yanchuk

As a newcomer, I’m eager to test the Ground, find common Ground with my cohort, and contribute to a project that brings value to the community. I also look forward to expanding my network and building meaningful, lasting connections for future collaborations.. I truly believe that no matter where our life journey has brought us from or where it’s taking us creative expression is an attempt to look beyond borders and inner bonderies reminding us of our shared humanity.

About Olena: Olena Yanchuk is a singer-songwriter, concept writer, and content developer whose work centers on cultural preservation and creative dialogue. She has released five albums—two dedicated to children—promoting a love of music and heritage. Her work on the Spadok Series (Back to Basics), a national project highlighting traditional Ukrainian female costumes across 24 regions, earned a Remi Award at the Houston Film Festival (2018).

After relocating to Poland due to the war, Olena received a scholarship from the Polish Ministry of Culture and led cultural dialogue programming at the Consulate of Culture in Gdynia. She also collaborated with Goyky 3 Art Inkubator, supporting refugee artists and translating webinars on Poland’s art system.

Now based in Canada, she works in Public Programs and Community Engagement at the Canadian Museum of Immigration, collaborating with diverse artists and storytellers to celebrate the richness of immigrant experiences and foster cross-cultural understanding through the arts.

Nahom Assefa

It's quite an honor to be part of among seven NOISEmakers with creative people who have various backgrounds and skills. I love learning from different perspectives, and I'm excited to hear the stories everyone has to share. I'm looking forward to how we can draw inspiration from one another to unite our vision for the upcoming project at the Nocturne Festival. Additionally, I'm eager to learn more about the arts and culture scene in Halifax and to be an active participant in it.

About Nahom: Born in Malaysia, raised in Ethiopia, and now based in Canada, Nahom is a digital and multimedia artist, creative writer, and founder of Cultured Creative Studio, a platform that celebrates cultural identity through visual storytelling. His work blends global traditions with contemporary themes, exploring belonging, resilience, and unity.

With a background in Business Administration from NSCC, Nahom has challenged the “starving artist” stereotype by combining artistic passion with entrepreneurial skills. His designs have been recognized provincially, including the 40th Anniversary African Heritage Month design for Halifax Public Libraries and branding adopted across all 14 NSCC campuses.

Through his initiative Cultured Creative Studio, he has collaborated with organizations like Atlantic Flamenco and Latinespania to highlight cultural diversity in Atlantic Canada. Selected as one of Canada’s top 64 student entrepreneurs by The Arena Pitch Competition, he continues to build community through art while supporting other newcomer creatives navigating the local arts landscape.

Yue Li

I'm most looking forward to connecting with fellow artists, local communities, and galleries, and drawing inspiration from my NOISEmakers cohort. I’m excited about the opportunity to collaborate and create something truly unique for Nocturne. Being part of this program is something I deeply value, and I believe the experience will be a meaningful source of inspiration and growth for my future artistic practice.

About Yue: Yue Li is a painter who recently earned her Master of Fine Arts from NSCAD University. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from Washburn University (2020) and a post-baccalaureate certificate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2021). Her work has been exhibited in galleries across Canada, the United States, and China.

Yue’s paintings are emotionally charged, rich with metaphors and symbolism that convey personal narratives. Drawing inspiration from the subtleties of everyday life, she creates art that reflects the complexities of self and identity. Her current practice delves into themes of personal growth and self-discovery, as she navigates an ever-evolving journey of understanding who she is.

Vita Fomenko

In this year's NOISEmakers program I'm looking for experience working in a team on a single art project. Experience that I haven't had before and maybe for some small miracle)

About Vita: Victoria Fomenko was born in Ukraine. Graphic artist, painter, and costume designer. She has been interested in people and art since childhood. This interest led her to study the traditions and culture of her country. She devoted eleven years of her life to studying at college and academy. Deeply immersed in studying the rules of art and subsequently breaking them. At this time, she became a follower of the avant-garde. Like all avant-garde artists, she became a freedom fighter. After completing her higher education, she found herself in a theatrical environment, where she worked as an artist for several years, mastering the needs of the new environment, creating posters, costumes and scenery in the very heart of the capital. In 2022, she was forced to leave her country due to the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine.

Margaryta Logvyn

I can’t wait to summon the weirdest and wildest of ideas with my fellow creatives and see what we end up with! Joining NOISEmakers and performing at Nocturne I consider to be a one-of-a-kind adventure. I want to be challenged, surprised, and maybe leave with a few things I never would’ve come up with on my own.

About Margaryta: Margaryta Logvyn is an emerging multidisciplinary fantasy artist creating imagined creatures and wearable works that explore care, identity, and self-acceptance. Drawing from childhood wonder, queer resilience, and the experience of displacement as a Ukrainian refugee, their work invites others to embrace their inner beasts and find strength in what makes them beautifully different.

Yawen Zhou

I’m looking forward to working in the studio with my amazing and inspiring NOISEmakers cohorts, stepping out of my comfort zone, and having more fun making art.I also hope to share my work with more people and build stronger connections with the local art community.

About Yawen: Yawen Zhou is a painter, children’s picture book author, and illustrator based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Originally from China, she has published seven picture books, two chapter books, and illustrated eight additional children’s titles over the past decade. Her work has appeared in literary columns, children’s magazines, and international exhibitions—including Children’s Books from China, which toured countries such as Germany, Italy, and the U.S. Her books are also held in public library collections around the world, including in Canada.

Yawen holds a BFA in Animation (Cartoon & Comics) from Nanjing University of the Arts and is currently completing a Certificate in Visual Arts (Painting) at NSCAD University, where she will begin her MA in Art Education in 2025.

Since arriving in Canada in 2023, she has been passionate about connecting with local artists and sharing her cross-cultural storytelling experience to foster creative exchange and collaboration through visual art.

Xing (Johnny) Mu

Moving to Canada gave me the rare opportunity to slow down and ask: Where is my ground? Through this program, I hope to reconnect with that inner foundation, and to explore what it means to feel truly grounded (emotionally,culturally, and creatively) in a new place. I see art as the medium through which I can begin to reclaim that sense of rootedness.

About Johnny: Xing (Johnny) Mu is a visual artist originally from Xi’an, China, now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A recent newcomer to Canada, he is navigating a transformative chapter in his life as an artist, father, and husband—seeking balance, purpose, and creative renewal. His artistic journey began in the United States, where he studied business and fine arts over seven years, including two years of formal training in drawing, sculpture, and conceptual practice at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

Influenced by mentors such as Heather Sincavage, Anderson Giles, and Hyrum Benson, Xing approaches art as a process of reflection and exploration rather than mere technique. His practice is rooted in personal transformation, migration, and the quiet moments that shape human experience. As he builds a new life in Canada, Xing is eager to connect with local creatives and deepen his engagement with the Nova Scotian arts community.

NOISEmakers is a summer art workshop series brought to you by Nocturne and ISANS. The project, funded by the Province of Nova Scotia and Arts 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.

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