Students from Port Colborne High School were busy preparing pieces for the sixth annual Green Art Show, happening April 25th & 26th.

Hosted by Community Artists Niagara, the show aims to challenge students to think about issues impacting the environment and express them through art.

Students can use any mediums and methods they want, as long as it remains environmentally friendly.

“They’ve got to get socially conscious about what’s going on in the planet,” said Doug Carter of Community Artists Niagara.

This is the fourth year Port Colborne High School will be exhibiting work at the show.

Grade 9 student Rebekah Rizzo created three pieces for the weekend’s event. Passionate about art, she said she learned a lot from her father, who is an artist.

The school’s art teacher, Dawn Mayne, said she thinks this type of show is popular with young artists because the materials are accessible.

“I think it appeals to our youth because it uses materials from their environment,” she said, “I think they can really sort of own it, take ownership, and I think it feels more their own.”

Mayne also said in terms of learning about art, using recycled and environmentally friendly materials really makes the students think about mixed media and how things come together.

Manufacturing students have also created work for the show, which teacher Vic Barker says gives his students the opportunity to be more creative with their work.

The Green Art Show runs Saturday and Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. at the L.R. Wilson Archives on King St. in Port Colborne.

Guests to the show will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite pieces.

Prizes donated from local business will be awarded for best in show, best in environmental conscience, best organic/natural, best reclaimed and up-cycled and best use and re-use of found objects.