Collaborative Indigenous Mural
This year, Grades 6 and 7 will be working on something unique, built under an intention of truth and reconciliation, as well as collaboration and brotherhood between all people.
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The mural has been designed by Derek Hall, a Meti student of Cree descent, who has been immersed in the local indigenous culture since he was very young, including dances and performances. This is the same design you have seen around the school on our 2021 shirts! Derek is a very talented artist. Make sure to say "Hi, Derek!" if you see Derek walking through the school!!!
This mural will be 10 feet high, and located on the second floor, right at the stair landing near the office. Every class will be in charge of a different piece. You will have to stick to certain guidelines, so that in the end, the design looks just like the original, from far away.
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While from far away, the mural will look like Derek's design, from up close it will be a celebration of the sparks and positivity that we all have.
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This is your spark mural. Let it reflect the best of you!
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"What is a Spark", you say?
So... let's make this mural and light up the school!!!!
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Mrs. Jurgensen helped a few students make sparks murals before! Let's that a quick look at these murals and see how awesome the Griffin could look.......
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Pretty cool how amazing their work looked together, right?
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The first step to co-create this mural is a brainstorming session.
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Take one of the templates for the piece. Work together to design a beautiful background that fits your piece. What will you put on it, that is positive and represents our hopes, wishes and dreams?
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Does this fit with our greater theme of unity and brotherhood?
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And, are you using your own ideas, without cultural appropriation?
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You may be asking yourself...
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"But what is cultural appropriation, and how can I make sure I don't do that?
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Cultural appropriation is done when a dominant culture "steals" or "appropriates" items or symbols from a culture, without context or history.
That is a big issue! Imagine if an alien culture came here and thought the maple leaf would look really good for target practice; that would be extremely rude and disrespectful to Canadians.
It's pretty much what some people have been doing with elements from other cultures, such as Indigenous cultures, African cultures and other marginalized cultures.
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For a good summary and good examples of cultural appropriation, and the difference between appreciating and appropriating, let's watch the video below:
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So, make sure you do not appropriate from any culture.
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"Can I draw an orca like I saw on a drum once, Mrs. J?"
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Probably not, Timmy. The orca you saw was probably drawn by an artist, and every part of their design means something. There is actually a history and method for every indigenous art that you see, and some symbols can only be used by certain families. But you may do some sort of graphic orca that is inspired by the art you saw. You can create an orca in another style, make it splashy, dotty or anything you like.
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Remember -- rule number one of art making is, steal like an artist, not from an artist.
Be inspired by hundreds, and copy from no one in particular.
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Once you draw on your template, we will vote as a class to decide what design will be selected for us to work on!
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We will have approximately two to three weeks to paint this piece. Let's give it our very best!
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PAINTING BOOTCAMP
Please connect the cylindrical Bluetooth speakers before starting.
KIDS, help the teacher!!!!!
