Narukami has explored drawing, painting and sculpting, creating detailed images with innumerable lines. The Edge includes her work in watercolour and ink. (Photo cropped from Narima dela Cruz FB post)
2nd update: Sept. 5, 2019, 8:25 PM
Updated: September 5, 2019, 3:20 PM.
Hycroft Gallery features young artist’s work
By Ted Alcuitas
Artworks by a student who was diagnosed as autistic at an early age is on exhibit at The University Women’s Club of Vancouver Hycroft Gallery will run from September 4 to 30.
The gallery is at 1489 McRae Ave. in Vancouver.
Karissa Narukami, who is half Filipino, was diagnosed at two years old with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder.
Despite her diagnosis she went on to achieve outstanding art according to her teachers at Burnaby South Secondary.
Guests who attended yesterday’s ( Sept. 4)opening reception were from left: Ellen Jalbuena, Lina Vargas, Karissa, Narima & Joel Dela Cruz. (Photo: Lina Vargas)
Margaret Peterson, a visual arts teacher at Burnaby South, said Narukami is “an extremely naturally gifted artist who possesses tremendous natural drawing ability.”
“Her characters are all original and reflect her incredible ability to synthesize materials she is taught, with her own personal way of seeing the world,” Peterson said in the write-up.
“Karissa’s talent was discovered at the ripe age of three by her parents when passing by a carnival on their way home,” says a write-up about the show. “Karissa recreated the carnival on paper with amazing accuracy of the setting. From that point on, her parents knew that she was gifted with a topographic memory.”