Awesome Arts 2021

Kids coping through art - Awesome Arts 2021

- by Gerald Dragon

This year, as COVID-19 pandemic continued to put any sort of program planning in to peril, Awesome Arts moved forward in virtual mode with the same quality workshops being offered to students in grades 3-6 at Viscount Alexander Public School. One of the classes that participated was Madame Deena’s grade 3/4 class, which worked with Claudia Salguero and artist intern Edgar Hernandez from March to June to produce a new mural called The Future Awaits to be installed inside the school.

Similar to another community mural project in 2020, students received kits filled with materials so that each of them could create their own canvas. Claudia photographed the individual canvases, and then brought them together digitally to create a larger collective piece.

Additionally, a unique opportunity was presented when the Ottawa Art Gallery approached SHCHC with an offer to partner for Awesome Arts. After initial discussions, it was decided that the Art Gallery would hold a vernissage for the mural being created, as well as to put it on display over the summer months alongside the individual canvases created by each student.

The mural arrived in Strathcona Heights at the beginning of October, and was recently mounted in a prominent location in the neighborhood, adding to other mural beautification projects which have been completed over the years. A copy is also located inside of Viscount Alexander Public School.

A big “Thank you” to: Madame Deena’s grade 3/4 class, Claudia, Edgar, Michael at the Ottawa Art Gallery, Jessica at MASC, and Paul.