Young Developing Artists' Show Develops Understanding (Summer 2005)
by Heather Pastro
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A special highlight of the show was the chance for students to see their own art works displayed! |
The “Young Developing Artists” Exhibition was held at the Nanaimo Art Gallery on the campus of Vancouver Island University, May 13 – June 11, 2005. An open call for two‑dimensional art work was sent out to all schools on Vancouver Island that enroll kindergarten to grade seven children in districts that are connected with Malaspina’s Bachelor of Education program. As a result, hundreds of entries were submitted to the gallery and about 250 artworks were selected by the jury of art educators.
The organizers of the exhibition, Robin Field, curator of the Nanaimo Art Gallery and an instructor in the Art Department, and Heather Pastro, art instructor in the Education program planned this exhibition with the intent to showcase a wide range of works by students focusing on the developmental stages of artistic growth from ages 4 – 13. The pieces selected demonstrated the range of abilities and skills of the children.
The works consisted of drawings and paintings using a variety of different materials such as felt pen, crayons, chalks, charcoal, water colour, acrylic paint, and oil pastel. Some of the pieces were collaged using found materials, as well as tissue paper, magazine imagery and plasticene. The exhibition also held one fabric quilt, a cooperative mural and a mobile. The showcase was hung with hardly a bit of wall space showing but in a pleasing and uncluttered fashion.
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Her son David, age 5, is also a talented artist. This is a portrait of his family and is characteristic of artistic abilities at this age |
The opening night attracted many of the artists, their families, and teachers. A short ceremony was held and each honoree was awarded a recognition certificate. The duration of the exhibition saw many viewers and classroom field trips to observe and enjoy this diverse show. The general feeling of the gallery stakeholders and the community was that more opportunities to highlight children’s art in a community gallery would be a great way to advocate for children’s art programs in the schools and to encourage their artistic and creative expression.
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A feature of the exhibit was this mural scene created collectively by Grade _ students at Georgia Avenue Community School. The mural depicts a winter city scene |
