Creative Consulting

Artist Talk

Mentor and mentee Emily Chu & Jan Xu

November 13th, 2025; 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Allard Hall – 4th floor – Room 11-451

Local artists Emily Chu and Jan Xu share their experience with Take Back the Streets, arts mentorship, and being professional artists in Edmonton. They will share past, present, future art projects, and answer Q&A.

Mentorship program

The goal of this program is to connect an early-career artist with an established artist – both with an interest in street art, public art, or public intervention and social practice art. The artists will pair up in August and choose a topic of interest to research and focus on. They will both create a chalk art piece for the September event. At the end of their mentorship period, they will present an artist talk sharing their experience, their practice, and their research with the broader community. Artist talks are a great way for the public to become familiar with artist’s work and how it impacts them. 

Emily Chu & Jan Xu

Meet the artists of

Take Back the Streets! Chalk Art Extravaganza

Autumn McLeod Whitstone

@amw.art_

“I am a Fine Arts student and member of the Garden Leadership team. Recently, I was a part of an event hosted at the Naked Cyber Cafe called ‘Femme Fusion.’ This was a small event put on by me and my two classmates for a group project. At this event, we had two musicians perform while I created live art of the performers while all proceeds went to SACE (Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton.)”

Emily Chu

Artist Mentor
@heyemilychu

“I am a Chinese multi-disciplinary artist based on Treaty 6, Edmonton. My artistic practice work flows between commercial illustration, visual arts, and public art/murals. I am also an arts-community organizer, with over 10+ years organizing art markets, a co-organizer of Chinatown Greetings,
a project that amplifies local artists’ voices and calls for care in Chinatown, and I am also the founder and
lead organizer of Togather Chinatown Art Fair – A Lunar New Year art market featuring Edmonton’s
community-minded artists, food businesses, and cultural organizations.”

Jan Xu

Artist mentee
@janxpencil

“I draw creative inspiration from daily life—the fleeting moments, mundane objects seen too often, and the whimsical imaginations
of children—all provide material and impetus for my creations.
Additionally, my works often reflect influences from both Eastern and Western cultural backgrounds, as well as my reverence for great artists and nature.
Last year, I had the opportunity to delve into chalk art. Through
various experiences in designing and creating chalk art, I have developed an understanding of its forms and techniques.”

Elena Mercuri

www.linkedin.com/in/elena-mercuri-44829729a

I am a working Métis artist and current student in my final semester in the studio arts BFA program at Macewan University. Two of my most recent experiences include being hired as an assistant painter o the Alberta Craft Council’s “Craft Tats” mural project lead by Emily Chu. I was also one of the artists selected by the Edmonton Mural Festival to create a mini Mural at Macewan University’s 2023 downtown block party.

Al & Shay

@ssorthel

“We are artists who are united in our commitment to free access to the arts, representation, and the community
responsibility that artists have. We have contributed to public art for Edmonton Mural Fest, CoLab, Nextfest, and the Leduc Arts Foundry as well as the Capital City Gallery at the Edmonton Public Library.We are proud to have learned from the most audacious artists and poets in the city, and we believe now it’s our turn to bring to YOU our Boisterous and bombastic visions! We are a female identified duo of multidisciplinary artists living and working in Edmonton, Alberta. We are here to learn and gain even more experience as we develop on our artistic journeys!”

Katie Hartwig

“I am a Treaty 6 born and raised Métis Visual artist, pursuing my Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Arts at MacEwan University.As I enter my third year of my BFA, I realize how time flies. Having spent the first two years finding a healthy balance to support my educational and career goals alongside my artistic practice, I intend to seize all opportunities that may present themselves in my third and fourth years. All in an effort to build and contribute to my MacEwan community while I complete my studies.”

Christina Hamer

@christinahamer

“Throughout my career as an educator and visual artist, I have consistently sought opportunities to blend creativity with community engagement. My experience with street art and public installations, including my role as a Principal Artist for the Beverly Heights Pocket Park Mural and my participation in the City of Edmonton’s Vibrant Streets Initiative, has equipped me with the skills and vision to create compelling, interactive art pieces. My recent work, “Art is…Sneakerhead Edition: Where Art Meets Soul,” exemplifies my ability to merge artistic expression with public interaction, a synergy I aim to bring to this event.”

About the event:

This is a partnership between Macewan University, Downtown Campus Block Part, and myself to activate the newly pedestrian-only area with art! It is an afternoon chalk art expo featuring art students, alumni, and local artists, live-chalking on the pavement in front of Macewan on 108 Street. During the event passersby are welcomed to join in the fun by adding to a “chalk by numbers” collaborative art piece. This event provides a paid opportunity for artists, a wide audience viewership for their work, and public art portfolio development. Implementing chalk art in the newly pedestrian-only Art Gardens is a way of activating the newly renovated space and prototyping future permanent artwork.