Portraits by artist as school fundraiser
Penny Oleksiak print helps support school’s pools and swimming programs
Toronto artist Jeff Sprang reached out to the family of Olympic swimmer Penny Oleksiak with these requests: Could he paint her portrait? Could she sign some prints made from it? Could those be sold to help fund school pools in Toronto?
For three decades now, Sprang has been combining his talent for painting with philanthropy, helping to raise money for nutrition programs in Toronto public schools, literacy foundations around the world and now, with Oleksiak’s portrait, pools at three local schools — Monarch Park, Carleton Village elementary and the therapeutic pool for special needs students at Sunny View.
Oleksiak was a Monarch Park student when she won four medals in Rio in 2016 — setting a Canadian record — at age 16.
Sprang said after watching the Olympics “and the fact that she was the fastest swimmer in the world at the time, the fact that she was so young, a student of Toronto and at Monarch Park — that was just so inspiring. It was such a remarkable achievement.”
He was first inspired in 1990, when he worked for the former Toronto school board as part of the communications team handling Nelson Mandela’s visit. “He came to Central Tech (high school),” Sprang explained in a recent interview at Monarch Park Collegiate in East York, where a signed print of Olek
siak hangs in the hallway near the school’s pool.
“They had a line for the media” drawn on the floor that reporters and photographers, who had come from around the world to cover Mandela, could not cross.
But Sprang was staff, so he could get up close. He stood within a foot or so of the South African leader, snapping photos which he later used as the basis for his watercolour painting.
During the visit, Mandela had urged Toronto students to do all they could to help Black students in South Africa.
For Sprang, that sparked an idea. He spoke to the board, made up some prints of his painting and sent some to South Africa — which Mandela personally signed before they were sent back and used for a fundraiser. Since then, Sprang has painted portraits from photos of Sidney Crosby — which became part of a travelling Hockey Hall of Fame art show — and musicians Leonard Cohen, Gord Downie, Bryan Adams and Drake.
His most recent is a portrait of Indigenous writer and Star columnist Tanya Talaga, which he hopes will be hung at the University of Toronto. Both he and Talaga are Victoria College alumni — though about two decades apart, he notes.
“I’ve known Jeff for years,” Talaga said. “We met while I was covering the Toronto District School Board nearly 20 years ago” as education reporter for the Star.
“He is a kind, empathetic soul. Art has always been his passion and its incredible to see how successful he has become. He’s painted so many incredible people and icons — from Northrop Frye to Nelson Mandela and Penny Oleksiak. I’m honoured to be the subject of one of his paintings.”
Sprang, 67, who retired almost three years ago from the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, began painting after university when his wife saw him drawing the house across the street and told him he had potential.
“That became life-changing,” said Sprang, who took night art courses for about four years “just learning to draw before picking up a paint brush.”
Over the years, he has also donated artwork to be auctioned at board charity events and has helped raise money for literacy programs in Jamaica and for HIV/AIDS relief in Africa via the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
“I love working with Jeff Sprang,” said Greg McKinnon, the Toronto public board’s manager of museum and archives.
“Jeff sees where support is needed and he steps in and gives it his all. Often, the programs he supports are those that are under strain due to budget concerns and other issues.”
McKinnon said “the amount of time Jeff gives and the artistic expertise that he brings to a project is incredible. He is great to work with and his heart is in the community projects he commits to.”
When he requested the photo shoot with Oleksiak, her mother asked Sprang what to bring — in the end, the Olympian wore her Team Canada jacket and medals.
Oleksiak later signed 100 prints, which sell for $200. A number of Mandela prints are also still available.
“Penny and our family would like to thank Mr. Sprang and the Toronto District School Board for this evocative portrait that commemorates the success of Penny and Team Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio,” Penny’s father, Richard Oleksiak, said in a statement to the Star.
“We would also like to encourage everyone to join us in supporting pools and programs in community schools so all the children of Ontario have the opportunity to learn to swim and enjoy participating with their families and friends.”