Youth Artists Showcase Talents at Third Annual CHNY Art Show 

Pride Hall at Covenant House New York was buzzing on Wednesday night, Sept. 24, as dozens of art patrons engaged with over 100 pieces of art and the young CHNY artists who created them.  

It was the third annual Covenant House New York Youth Art Show, where 29 residents of CHNY, all of whom have faced homelessness, showed off their talents in a variety of mediums, including sculpture, textile art, poetry, and acrylic, watercolor, and marker paintings. The pieces were auctioned, and all proceeds went to the youth who created them. 

The artists were as excited to talk about their works and process as patrons were to listen, drawing not only from their experiences of homelessness but from their well of talent, inspiration, connection, and expectation for their futures.  

Writing from the Heart 

Zayyona, who signs her works ZayDaPoet, showcased several acrylic paintings and a poem called “Don’t Let Your Home Define You.”  

“When I wrote it, I thought of every youth who’s ever been homeless, sex trafficked, a migrant,” she said, “for everyone who’s ever been hurt. I write poetry not only to tell my own story but to tell the stories of many others. I try to hear everyone’s story, their trauma, and how they got through it. Everything I write comes from the heart.” 

At the time she wrote this poem, Zay was feeling “stuck,” seeing other CHNY youth move on to transitional or independent living and wondering when her time would come. “I had to learn patience,” she said. She did, and a couple of months later, she, too, moved into her own apartment. Her poem’s message: “Don’t let your past get to you. You can’t control that. What you can control is your present and your future.” 

We Need One Another 

Mistou created three acrylic paintings out of a sense of “nostalgia for back home,” she said. One of the Africa-inspired pieces, “We Are Because We Flow,” expresses the connection and support she said she has always felt, no matter the momentary circumstances of her life.  

“I never felt alone,” she said. “There was always someone to support me.” It’s a message she wants to share with others. “Wherever, whoever you are in this world, you have to understand that you have to ask for help. We need one another to flow and survive in this world.” 

Making Time Stand Still 

Marco, another artist, said he enjoys working with recycled fabrics, and showed a practical and beautiful tote bag he’d made from fabrics of various textures and patterns. But he also paints. One of the paintings he shared is titled “River of Time.” Painted on a round canvas, it depicts a colorful waterfall scene, with stopped metal clock hands imposed over it.  

“Have you ever felt like you get to a beautiful vantage point and just wish time could stop?” he asked. “I painted this waterfall and put the clock hands over it, frozen in time, so that beautiful scene will always be there, will always be the same.” 

He also painted the view from his childhood window in a piece called “Window to Another World.” In it, he shares a memory of fear and comfort. “I had a nightmare, and it woke me up in the middle of the night,” he said. “I looked out the window and saw my neighbor’s house, and it made me feel safe because they were very special to me. It was like a magical, mystical experience and one of my favorite memories.” 

It Takes All of Us 

During a brief program partway through the evening, the Rev. Dr. Shakeema North-Albert, CHNY CEO, welcomed guests and thanked the many partners who led art workshops, provided materials, and helped create “a gallery opening” experience enjoyed by both artists and patrons. Many were recurring partners. 

“Here at Covenant House New York,” Shak said, “we couldn’t do the work we do without the support of a great community.” Her thanks went out to partners Arts Ignite for leading art workshops for the youth; Peapack Private and Shutterfly for supplying art materials; and Relish Catering for donating their delicious catering services for the evening. Photographer Ana Ubell-Garcia again volunteered her services mentoring young photographers. 

During the reception, award-winning writer and bestselling author and comedian The Kid Mero, a longtime supporter of our Covenant House youth, perused the artworks, engaging with and encouraging the artists. “As an artist myself,” he said, “I find nothing better than drawing inspiration — and maybe biting a little style! — from these young guys and gals.” 

The Kid Mero recalled that all proceeds from the artworks sold would go directly to the artists who created them. “That’s why I’m here,” he said.  

By the end of the evening, the sale of art during this third annual CHNY Youth Art Show totaled more than $14,000, all of which was distributed to the youth artists. 

A Time to Shine 

Tracy Weller, a volunteer and supporter of CHNY, accompanied the youth while they worked on their pieces in anticipation of the show. “I was struck by their heart, talent, inspiration, and willingness to try something new,” she said at the reception. “They opened themselves up to something completely new and were willing to take the risk to put themselves out there. I take that with me,” she said. 

Dilon, another artist, spoke to that risk in her large-canvas painting, “The Light Through Chaos.” “In my own life, I’ve had a lot of growth, spiritually and emotionally,” Dilon said. “You get into patterns, and it takes over your life. If you choose to grow, you have to rip through that order.” 

When asked during the program what she hoped patrons would take away from the show (besides the artwork itself), Dilon said, “The people around you have been through a lot of hardship. But it doesn’t define us. What defines us is what you see all around you,” she said, referencing the artworks. “Now is our time to shine. These works are something to be proud of.”