Gallery program introduces kids to indigenous artists

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria has launched a new school program designed around artwork by four contemporary, indigenous artists. A limited number of free workshops are also planned from October through December.

In the program, Powerful Pictures: Representation and Storytelling, students can explore key questions about representation and identity.

“This program is a very important one. The works in Powerful Pictures ask us to consider indigenous peoples’ rights and world views,” said Jon Tupper, art gallery director. “Art can connect us with communities in meaningful ways, and it’s a wonderful way to practise creative and critical thinking.”

The program includes images of work by two male and two female artists: Sonny Assu, Terrance Houle, Meryl McMaster and Marianne Nicolson. It also includes free teacher guides designed for students from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Students will engage in discussions of such topics as colonialism, media culture and indigenous world views, and explore artistic responses to these topics. They will learn visual literacy and media-literacy skills, and will begin to think in a holistic way about their communities and their own identities.

The programs are designed to complement a wide range of B.C. curriculum topics and subjectspecific curriculum goals.

A limited number of free halfday Powerful Pictures workshops will be offered from October through December. The workshops will take place in schools and accommodate up to three classes. Teachers can register at aggv.ca/teacher-resourceguides, and any questions can be directed to schoolprograms@aggv.ca.