Yellowknife (May 19/04) - Visitors to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre are privy to some of the North's most treasured and historic artifacts.

The halls of the museum give a taste of northern life before contact with European settlers and guide onlookers through several hundred years of exploration and development.

But the museum has recently expanded its horizons with a modern art exhibit.

"That's how (the exhibit) started, because of the importance of art," said Kayhan Nadji, a Yellowknife architect and artist. "Art could be seen as the flower of civilization."

The exhibit features paintings by six of Kayhan's students, none of whom are older than 14.

"It's kind of weird to have what you do in a museum where everybody can see them," said 10-year-old Julia Marsh.

Most of the paintings are based on models, but the artists are encouraged to express themselves however they want.

"I like using weird colours, it just makes it unique," Marsh said.

This artistic freedom truly does make the paintings unique to the artist.

"I started it as a horse, but kind of finished it as a donkey," said 11-year-old Anisa Nadji of her work.

Kayhan -- who has been teaching art for nearly two decades -- took on the students last fall and they have been meeting once a week for art class ever since. He teaches in his private studio, and donates his time to the students.

The children had little experience with painting before working with Kayhan.

Eight-year-old Colleen Ryans has sold one of her paintings -- an abstract piece featuring a pig's head -- to a museum employee.

"I really like pigs," said Ryans of the painting.

Art supplies for the lessons are all donated by Yellowknife's Baha'i Community.

Space for the exhibit was donated by the museum. The artwork can be seen until the end of May in the Heritage Cafe area of the museum.