School art program inspires students and artist

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This article was published 07/12/2011 (5169 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Students from Prince Edward School received a unique lesson in art last week.

The East Kildonan-based school was part of the Manitoba Arts Council’s Artists in the Schools program.

Dimitry Melman, who works in the visual arts, was the artist in residence at the school and provided students an opportunity to make their own mosaics with small pieces of coloured glass and stone.

Students at the school worked on four logos that represent the school’s home rooms, which feature a mixture of kindergarten to Grade 6 students. Melman then helped transform the logos into mosaics.

“Traditionally we have a history of art at the school. For children this age it inspires creativity,” said Nigel Wilcox, a Grade 4 and 5 teacher at the school.

“Mosaics are quite different. Kids have never worked with the tile before. It’s different than clay or paper.”

Melman, who has been making mosaics for the last 15 years, took part in the program for the first time.

“Kids love mosaics, they learn about the actual process,” said Melman, who operates Studio on Strathcona in the West End.

“The final result, of course, is always exciting. For kids it’s always inspirational.”

Grade 4 student Makenna Park, said she enjoys art because it allows students to experience new things.
“It lets you be creative, and allows you to come up with whatever you want,” she said.

“I like it because it’s one of my favourite things to do,” added Grade 5 student Carlos Ortiz.

The main goal of the project is to expose students to different types of art, but it can be equally education for the artists involved.

“Kids come up with such interesting ideas,” Melman said.

“I’ve always worked with kids, even back in university. To me it’s a natural progression that I would continue working with kids.”

Susan Israel, education manager for the arts council, said the program has been operating for more than 30 years across the province and provides a unique opportunity for those involved.

“The artist is actually in the classroom working with the students hands-on,” Israel said.

“Our main motivation is to enrich what’s happening in the schools.”

For Wilcox, the week-long experience will pay dividends down the road.

“What they learn with the artist, we start to see in other areas of the curriculum,” he said.

Lord Nelson School was the other Winnipeg school to take part in the program. Artist Bud Gillies is working with students at the North End-based school until Dec. 16.

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