Stunning First Nations inspired art on display at Wellington County Museum
April 28, 2016
GUELPH, Ontario – From a 3D map that explores Canadian identity to dot paintings that depict Indigenous traditions and culture, beautiful works of art are on display at the Wellington County Museum and Archives (WCMA).
The student art exhibit Zoongeheshkwaad runs until June 19, with the opening reception on April 28 at 7 p.m.
Zoongeheshkwaad, which means “moving forward together in a good way,” features art by elementary and high school students of the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic School Board. It’s the second year the WCMA has held the student exhibit. This year, 30 schools are participating.
The exhibit features more than 100 pieces of student art inspired by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit culture and art.
A 3D map, created by grade 4/5 students at Victory Public School, with teachers Monique Cadieux and Daniel Durocher, examines how Canadian identity is formed.
“The presence of Indigenous Peoples is represented through colours which grow out concentrically from the centre. These colours demonstrate our awareness of the historical presence of Algonquian Peoples on the land where our school is located,” reads a description of the work.
The map was created using repurposed objects, including fabric from old T-shirts and buttons, as an act of environmental stewardship and respect for the land.
Students from Centre Wellington District High School created Talking Rocks, with teacher Scott Farlinger. Each talking rock holds a number of small stones, which represent individuals of importance to the person who made the rock. “When the rock is shook, the stones speak – each with its own voice.”
A centerpiece of the exhibit is “Nenaboozhoo and the Fish” – a large dot painting created by students at Centre Dufferin District High School as part of the Nenaboozhoo Miikan Mural Project. This past winter, artist Christi Belcourt worked with CDDHS students over the course of a week, creating a series of three murals that told represented Nenaboozhoo and the creation story.
The exhibit is a product of the community based Turtle Island Heritage Festival, which celebrates First Nations, Métis and Inuit culture through a series of workshops for students. This year’s festival ran from April 26 -29 and hosted 1,200 students at the museum.
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For more information:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
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