Students, elders see eye-to-eye on art
Two generations came together Tuesday to embrace street art and each other.
Members of the Saskatoon public school division’s iGen program and participants in the Sherbrooke Community Centre’s art program teamed up to apply stencilled prints around the area they live and learn.
Applying drawings of cats, birds and even pandas, the collaboration between the two groups was called an instance of “inter-generational street art.” Officials with the iGen program said the activity helped students and elders learn together and from one another.
Keri Albert, lead teacher with the iGen program, said relationships between the students and elders “form quickly,” as the groups are in constant communication.
“Not only are we doing planned activities like this, with young students and elders, but we’re also naturally coming across each other in conversation as we move around Sherbrooke throughout the day,” Albert said.
“I believe that it’s those unplanned moments, conversations and opportunities to just connect on a human level, that really change the way that my students see human beings and the way that we all experience the human condition.”
Tuesday’s activity, and the entire project, was led by Saskatoon printmaker Cate Francis. The artist behind the The Paper Wildlife Conservancy placemaker series said street art is democratic as it brings creative pieces to the masses and helps artists, young and old, connect.
“It’s amazing to see that the kids are learning so much and the elders are learning so much from each other,” Francis said.
Holding a drawing she did of a panda that has since been silkscreened and enlarged, Verna Blair said she’s enjoyed learning alongside the students.
“It’s a wonderful group of students this year,” she said. “They’re really outgoing and they’re so mature for their age ... They’re a lot of fun to be with.”
An avid collector of teddy bears, Blair said deciding on a subject for her print was easy. She was excited to see her art enjoyed by others.
“I’ve always wanted to have my paintings on a fire hydrant, so this is as close as I’m going to get,” she said.
Grade 6 student Chloe Land said learning alongside the residents at Sherbrooke has been “amazing.”
“It’s been an honour to work with the elders and to spend lots of time with them,” she said. “To see all their work, it’s awesome to put it up on the walls and show everybody that comes into the community ... what they’ve done.”
Alana Moore, the artist in residence at the Sherbrooke Community Centre, said street art itself has a widespread appeal that traditional art forms may lack.
“It’s work that is often really impactful,” she said. “Whether it’s something really subtle, like a small message or a small animal, or if it’s something more political, either way street art has this amazing capacity to really resonate with all ages.
“I think it’s important because often we forget that art is this amazing tool to connect people and that can connect from all ages and from all backgrounds, and is this thing that really can bring people together.”