On Friday, November 22, five Grade 10 and 12 Visual Arts students from Hawthorn attended the Conference of Independent Schools Visual Arts Festival (CISVAF) at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg:
- Mary, Ebun, Chloe, and Daniela (Grade 10)
- Rocio (Grade 12)
The festival’s theme was “How did we get here? Art, Identity, and the Human Experience”, offering students an opportunity to explore new artistic ideas and techniques.
One of the highlights of the day was the private gallery tour before the gallery opened to the public. Students had the unique experience of exploring the art collection in a quiet, intimate setting. They also had the chance to speak with gallery guides about careers in art, gaining valuable insights into the professional art world. Additionally, students were given the opportunity to sketch from the artworks, allowing them to practice their observational and drawing skills and interact with students from other schools.
The day featured three main activities:
- Gallery Tour: Students explored McMichael’s rich and diverse art collection, which is set in a beautiful natural landscape. The grounds include a sculpture garden and a walk to the Tom Thomson Shack. Our young artists were surrounded by plenty of inspiration to fuel their creativity and discover innovative ways to channel their artistic passion as they explored art as an expression of personal experience and examined various cultural narratives of the past and present.
- Art-Making Studio with Donald Chrétien: Ojibwe artist, designer, and educator, Donald Chrétien, whose work is inspired by the visual storytelling style of Norval Morrisseau and the Anishinaabe School of Painters, led students through a creative workshop. Students experimented with personal expression using acrylic paint to create their own artwork, exploring colour theory and patterns found in nature.
- Interactive Art Battle: Students engaged in a competitive art-making challenge, encouraging them to unleash their artist’s spirit, think on their feet, and express their creativity under pressure.
Our day was absolutely filled with inspiration and new perspectives. We thank the CISVAF organizers, Donald Chrétien, and everyone at the McMichael Gallery for providing such a great experience in art-making ideas and techniques to bring back to class and into our lives. We loved our day!