By Mike Spelay
Two art projects for young people have occupied the exhibition space in the RMOC building, one of which may be sold for $5 million.
In this space the two exhibits come together as an example of the creativity of young artists and the importance of allowing them an opportunity to express themselves.
The two exhibits are Young at Art, an annual juried show for Kanata teenagers, and the Dendron Project, an educational program for Grades 1 through 6.
Graham Smith, a sculptor, developed the Dendron project as a means to educate young Canadian children on the importance of plants, trees, peace-keeping and humanity.
The project, whose name comes from the Greek word for tree, may be sold for as much as $5 million by Smith and the Churchill Alternative School Council.
“I don’t think that’s a high price tag considering what millions are spent on these days,” says Smith, “and considering the high price of art.”
The displays come from the Dendroid Workshops. These workshops introduce sculpture to children as a tool for exploration and discovery.
The youngsters create miniature trees out of plasticine, plaster of Paris and found materials, as a representation of their importance within our society.
Smith says the children have a more fortunate and positive outlook, as a result of being raised in Canada.
“Sculpture is used as a modus operandi for getting children involved,” says Smith.
Smith says he would like to see Canadian children sharing their perspectives, their art and their ideas with the rest of the world.
With help from the Churchill Alternative School Council, he began the project with children from that school, as well as CHEO’s Childlife Program (where gauze bandages were among the tools used) and the Davidson Home-School Project.
Money from the sale of the works will go towards funding other projects for young children, and will bring the Dendron project to other countries.
The second exhibit, Young at Art, has given Kanata youth a forum for four years to have their art exhibited, judged and, sometimes, sold.
“It’s important to run this as professionally as possible in a truly adult way,” says Ruth Mlacak, a coordinator for the show.
The show features 42 works in a variety of styles, including oil, watercolour, pastel, collage and mixed media.
The artists, aged 13 to 19, came from 12 schools, including the University of Ottawa.
Prizes were handed out during the show’s time at the Kanata Civic Art Gallery.
Kanata mayor Merle Nicholds, regional councillor Alex Munter and local artist Ben Babelowsky handed out awards.
David Jones, another local artist, juried the show.
The gallery show, says Mlacak, attracts more visitors to the gallery than most other exhibits.
“A young person came in (to the gallery) and expressed a view that she would like a place for her art to be exhibited,” she says.
That was where the show started from four years ago.
“It’s very important to do these sort of outreach programs in the arts.”
Both exhibits will be on display at the RMOC building until April 13.
After that, the Dendron trees collection will be put up for sale and the Young at Art pieces will go back to the artists.