Canada 150 canoe

[memaquay]

It's Canada's 150th anniversary this year, and a variety of celebrations and initiatives have been planned. Our students were challenged to come up an idea of what Canada 150 meant to them. One of our Educational Assistants has a degree in Fine Arts, and after talking to the kids in her class, I decided to donate a 17 foot Pal cedar strip to the cause. The idea we came up with was to cover the canoe using the Woodland Art style. Most of the kids in the project are Anishnabe, and they are creating a master piece.







Thie kids are still in the early stages, but their artistic supervisor tells me that it will be superb. (most of the kids doing the painting are going on my Outers trip, leaving Monday, so they only have a couple of days left).

 

[memaquay]

Forgot to say, when they are done painting, I'm going to varnish the entire hull, so any wood showing will come back to life. We sanded the old varnish off before we started.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Very very cool!

 

[Odyssey]

I was mesmerized by the Woodland Art of Norval Morrisseau, absolutely glowing with life on art gallery walls; even acrylic, canvas and walls couldn't contain it.
http://www.native-art-in-canada.com/...ndsschool.html
http://www.native-art-in-canada.com/...symbolism.html
This is a tremendous project memequay, thanks to everyone involved. Easily the most meaningful of any I've seen.

 

[dougd]

Mem, Good on you for giving the canoe. That is an inspirational project and give kudos to both you and the kids! Glad to see it! Many thanks.

 

[boatstall]

Respect for heritage instilled through art is priceless. Kudos memaquay.
Your efforts for your students will be long remembered through them, and then through the stories they will tell their offsprings. The world would be a much better place for all of us, if every student could be exposed to what you have taught through a canoe. Thank you for all you do for your kids.

 

[Robin]

That will be very beautiful when finished. Thanks for donating the canoe to the students, you're a good man mem.

 

[Iskweo]

Great idea. You continue to amaze me. Keep this up and you will lose your grumpy old guy licence.

 

[redoleary]

That's going to be something when it's finished! Very generous of you to donate the canoe, well done.

 

[latremorej]

Wow! That's great Mem!

 

[snapper]

That's beautiful artwork but I do have one concern. If I'm looking at the photo correctly, do they realize that all their work will appear upside down when the canoe is floating in the water?

Until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[memaquay]

Ha ha, yes we struggled with the orientation, but that canoe will probably never see the water again. We wanted it to look good from the sides and above, so when it was ported, things would look right. The gal who is instructing the kids is a very talented artist, and she will be coming in for the second half of the outers trip too. Assimilation is almost complete!

 

[martin2007]

Beautiful viewed from any perspective, and even with eyes closed.

 

[snapper]

Mem - I did wonder if this was going to become a display canoe so that orientation makes sense. Regardless of how it ultimately gets used, you're a great guy for making the donation and the kids look like they're doing a wonderful job. A big CONGRATS to everyone.

Until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[Odyssey]

This is the coolest thing. It far transcends mere canoe bling. It brings culture alive for the students and everyone who'll have the pleasure to see it.
I wondered about the image orientation too when I first saw it, and asked myself from which perspective it'd be seen the most. Well I don't know and I don't care. This project excites me. I hope we see more of it when it's done and gets out and about in the community.