After completing a really interesting vault tour at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (there will be a post on that soon), I stopped in to view the student exhibition, Expressions 41: Our Place in the World. Each spring, the gallery showcases artwork of elementary and secondary school students from across Waterloo Region. This year's theme asked students to consider what it means to be part of local and global communities and to reflect on where they fit into the "big picture". That's a pretty heavy theme for anyone, much less young people who are still in school. It's been a while since I was in elementary or high school and I'm still figuring out my place in the world. I'm probably not alone in that regard.
The students' works on display during Expressions 41 hang beside a selection of art from the Gallery's Permanent Collection, as well as artwork from the In|Sight program, an in-school residency through which professional artists facilitate the creative work of students. the exhibition attracted more than 140 submissions from more than 200 students in the JK through Grade 12 grades of local school boards, independent schools and a local home school association. The submitted works comprise a variety of art media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, digital film and photography.
We all see and interpret things differently. I was fascinated to see the different interpretations of the theme and I thought about how proud the students must be to have their work on display in such a professional and prestigious setting. There were so many incredible pieces, but here are my favourite three. I also took some short videos that I'll be posting on Instagram.
My Adventures in the World by Ellena Riegle (KWCHEA, Grade 6)
Inner Battle: Lion vs Girl by Jasmin Amoako (WCI, Grade 11)
Control, Alt, Delete by Sereena Singroy (Galt CI, Grade 12)
The show is on until May 22, 2016. If you're local, drop by the gallery and check it out. Maybe it will prompt you to think about or re-examine your place in the world.
Story and photos by Glodeane Brown