Inspiring the underdogs

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This article was published 04/03/2019 (2540 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This is the 10th year Graffiti Art Programming Inc. is bringing northern Manitoba students’ artwork to its gallery.

GAP Inc. has been partnering with Frontier School Division and hosting works from the Frontier School Division Juried Art Show for 10 years. This year, the gallery is exhibiting artwork from 44 students and is running different art workshops to encourage youth to communicate through creative self-expression.

More than 10 years ago, GAP Inc. was invited to attend Frontier School Division’s annual teaching conference to view the students’ art show where their work was only exhibit their work for one night. 

“There was so much great artwork that it seemed such a waste just to get all this artwork brought here and only exhibit it for one or two nights. We began picking a few of the pieces that we could exhibit and tried to show a good range of the artwork that they would make in the different schools,” Pat Lazo, artistic director at GAP Inc., explained.

Lazo added when young artists participate in juried art shows they are encouraged to work even harder and that he’s constantly reminded of how beneficial and inspiring it was for him when he heard constructive criticism as a young artist. 

During the time he has been a juror for the art show, he has seen how the kids develop and improve their skills over time.

“Every piece that is submitted gets constructive criticism and a pat on the back, and sometimes that’s all it takes to inspire someone,” he said.

Lazo explained bringing in Frontier School Division students’ artwork aligns with what they have been doing for so long — serving underserved areas. GAP Inc. hosts programs in Point Douglas, North End and downtown at Studio 393 and “as a gallery we feel like we are the underdog, so that mentality goes the same way with who we serve,” he said.

“Not every youth is into sports, so I feel like when there’s a chance to inspire that youth who is not that soccer star and they are a little bit more introverted and want to create artwork, when they can get some input that inspires them to continue with it, it’s always something that you hope to do. Art is such a therapeutic activity that you can only hope to inspire kids to keep doing it.”

As far as capacity building, Lazo said having their work exhibited builds their confidence and their ability to produce something and keep growing on those skills.

GAP Inc. is offering art workshops and tours for school groups during the Frontier School Division Art Show. These workshops engage youth in a hands-on activity, working together to create a large-scale collaborative diorama exploring the concept of community, to be exhibited alongside the Frontier School Division artwork. Youth will work in small groups to develop sculptural content to add to the exhibition.

The exhibit is open until March 20 at Graffiti Gallery (109 Higgins Ave.).