Lasalle S.S. student artwork on display in Southern Ontario gallery

A Grade 9 student from Lasalle Secondary School has won the honour of having her artwork displayed in a gallery in Southern Ontario. A water jug drum and mardi gras/Halloween mask designed by Brittney Baker will be showcased at the IDEAL-WAY Art Exhibition at the Varley Gallery in Unionville from April 1st to 5th, 2009. The gallery is named after F.H. Varley of the Group of Seven.

“This is a terrific student success story about how a teacher made a difference by nurturing an individual’s talent,” says Craig Runciman, Principal of Lasalle Secondary School. Art teacher Ritva Mollari recognized Brittney’s artistic flair and submitted two pieces of her art in the first province-wide art contest sponsored by the IDEAL-WAY.

“I was delighted to receive a call that both of Brittney’s entries had been selected from over 500 submissions from across Ontario,” says Mollari. Some 70 works were chosen by an awards panel chaired by Andrew Hamilton, Canadian landscape painter, Fine Arts Professor and Curator of the Marianne van Silfhout Gallery at St. Lawrence College.

The inspiration for Brittney’s artwork began with her teacher. “Last fall, I took an art worshop on Water Jug Drums led by Steve Sheehan, Jeff Stewart and Guy Campeau of the Rainbow District School Board,” says Mollari. “I subsequently decided to include this project as part of my unit of study on masks.”

Mollari and her students began by discussing the many uses of masks throughout history. Students then researched African masks. Since it was fall, students made Halloween masks painted on canvas and embellished with buttons, feathers and/or glitter.

“Brittney’s mask had a Mardi Gras influence and it was most impressive,” says Mollari. She adds: “The students also had fun with the culminating project for this unit of study – creating drums from five gallon water jugs.” The jugs were first covered with paper maché then decorated with acrylic paints. In designing their jugs, students were asked to consider pattern and colour first and foremost.

“What I loved about Brittney’s approach was that she understood the expectations and was not afraid to go for it in her own flamboyant style,” says Mollari. “We are proud of Brittney Baker’s accomplishment and are certainly delighted that her works of art will be showcased provincially and shared with a broader audience.”

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Media Contact:

Craig Runciman, Principal, Lasalle Secondary School,

Rainbow District School Board, 566-2280.