Local artist decorates City Hall
Local artist Jackie Ochitwa does not need any paintbrushes, cameras or soldering guns to complete her pieces of art.
Instead, Ochitwa looks to the light, flexible properties of balloons to dazzle adults and children alike.
After moving to Airdrie earlier this year, Ochitwa decided to take her hobby and launch it into a business starting With a Twist Balloon Creations.
“It’s funny how I learned; I started with library books and have graduated on to YouTube,” said Ochitwa.
“What I really like about it is the look on their faces. They get to pick the colour and you do exactly what they want.”
One aspect that drew Ochitwa to balloon art was an experience waiting in line for a balloon sword and flower for her children, Ty and Reese, which quickly unravelled and caused tears for the then two and four year olds.
Ochitwa had to figure out how to put the balloons sculptures back together to stop the tears.
“I have heard of kids who get so attached to them they will keep them for months, even when they become rippled up pieces of rubber,” said Ochitwa. “I have found some under the kids’ beds.”
Ochitwa has five balloon sculptures on display at City Hall, a reindeer head displayed like a hunter’s mount, a flower sconce, a faucet with water dripping from it, a monkey on a palm tree, and a bird on a branch.
The City of Airdrie recently placed ads seeking interested artists to volunteer their works to be displayed as part of the Art in the City program, and Ochitwa figured it was worth a shot.
“I gave them a call and asked if they would be interested in some balloon art,” said Ochitwa.
“I didn’t expect him to actually respond, thinking ‘I am not putting a balloon puppy on the wall.’ I sent him some pictures of my work, and once he saw those, he was interested.”
Ochitwa says that balloon art has come a long way since she was a child, adding that the biggest sculpture she has put together for a client was a moped-size representation of a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
“Kids love balloons, I remember growing up and going to the fair and seeing the balloon artists, it’s amazing how much balloon art has grown since we were kids,” said Ochitwa.
“(The biggest thing I have done) was a motorcycle. It took me five hours to build.
“The lady who came to pick it up came to pick it up in a little sports car, and we had to stuff it in there.”
The program has been running for two years, according to community developer Michael McAllister, and he hopes to see more artists come forward to have their artwork displayed.
Ochitwa’s work will be on display at City Hall during regular business hours for the next two weeks, depending on the ballons’ deflation rate.
To view Ochitwa’s work online, visit www.withatwist.ca
In order to post comments on our web site, you must validate your email address. An email was sent to you when you registered that included an activation link. If you have not yet done so, please click on the link to activate your account.
If you did not receive your activation email, please click here to have it resent.
Already a member? Login here!
Not yet a member of the site? Register here!
Comments
Be the FIRST to comment!