This month the Foyer Gallery show at the public library has a level of professionalism that doesn't hint at an apprentice collection - what gives these students away are the self-portrait images suggesting the youth of the artists.
Squamish is known for its high percentage of working artists and, by the look of this student show, our town will be able to sustain this reputation for many years to come.
Activating the right side of their brains, these kids have used: pastel, graphite, acrylic on paper or canvas, etchings and lino-cuts, photo montage, pen and ink, ceramics, collage and mixed media. You can view a more representational yet enticing collection for old car buffsor analyze pieces that may be more thought provoking, using symbolic imagery to deal with more intangible issues such as "S茅ance of Eternal Combustion."
Here's an introduction in the words of Elizabeth Arnold, Grade 12 art student:
Welcome to the "Ultimate" year end art show.The work in this show represents Howe Sound Secondary 2008/2009 art classes.
Foundation in Art students in grades 9 or 10 are a highly creative group of young artists. In this class we explore a range of media and techniques - painting and drawing, printmaking and sculpture - through projects such as the chiaroscuro self-portraits in graphite/charcoal/paint and the Old Cars ceramic sculptures, displayed on the walls and in the cases. Students can take this course in both grade 9 and 10 as and elective, and as preparation for studio art classes.
This year's Senior Studio Arts are passionate and innovative. Seniors focus in one of three media areas: painting and drawing, printmaking and graphics or sculpture and ceramics in order to explore their area of interest in more depth.
Of course, since we all work in one room together there is a fair amount of cross-pollination and mixed media experimentation; paintings sometimes incorporate silk-screen, sculptures involve photography.
Working from a central idea nevertheless, students interpret assignments individually and try different strategies. For example, horror and science fiction projects (When Marlowe Talks, Skra?k Scene, The Living Dead of Death and I Hunger) challenged students to work with manipulation of scale, distortion and viewpoint.
Last month a sacred space project invited students to create a place of contemplation in an architectural setting (Village Hut, Tree House).
Students also have the opportunity to design their own projects, work collaboratively, as well as sustain one idea through a series of images (Evolution, A Dream). As we work, we generally explore art in terms of cultural, historical and social influences.
The art students at Howe Sound Secondary have worked hard on these projects and we hope you enjoy them. We'd love to hear what you think, so be sure to leave a comment (in the binder on the gallery podium).
