Earth Day 2019 Student Art Show

Alongside our 3rd annual Earth Day Fundraiser (April 28th, 100% of profits donated to RAVEN Trust), we've hung a huge collection of art, featuring the work of over 300 students from 11 classrooms and 6 different schools in East Van.

Kids have a certain bluntness we adults tend to shy away from when it comes to talking about such uncomfortable things as our environment and what future awaits us. Each year, this show is incredibly impactful and this year’s iteration is no different. These kids are growing up in an era of significant environmental awareness, and they expressed their thoughts pointedly in this collection.

Thanks to the teachers and students of Charles Dickens Elementary, Stratford Hall, Discovery East Van, Queen Alexandra, Grandview Elementary, and Mount Pleasant Elementary for all your hard work.

If you’re an educator and would like to bring a classroom or another group in to view the art, it will be up until May 27th. Email bandidascommunications@gmail.com, and we’d be happy to host you.

Meme
Grades 6 & 7, 43 students
Queen Alexandra Elementary

"Meme" was inspired by social media's "10 year challenge" photo memes and our unit on salmon. Students decided to pursue a before-and-after artistic depiction of our Earth and the impacts human activity is having on it. Salmon are one species that are directly impacted by human activity and climate change. At the same time, Salmon are connected to many ecosystems and food webs. Salmon are also important to our local indigenous communities in terms of food, culture, and spirituality.

Kindergarten & Grade 1
12 students
Discovery East Van

We are an alternative school called Discovery East Van and the art is by the Kindergarten/Grade 1 class that meets once a week at a local location. Cara Felde is the teacher. We celebrated Earth Day with Dr. Seuss and the Lorax in this classic picture book about protecting the environment.

I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.

Dr. Seuss's beloved story teaches kids to speak up and stand up for those who can't. With a recycling-friendly "go green" message, The Lorax allows young readers to experience the beauty of the Truffula Trees and the danger of taking our earth for granted, all in a story that is timely, playful, and hopeful. The book's final pages teach us that just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference.

In the art project, the kids drew warm colour "Truffula" trees from the book in pastels and then used a cool colour wash in watercolour to create a Batik look for the background. To finish, they used an ink pattern design on paper for the trunks. Included in the art was each child's response to how they'd like to help the environment after reading the book.

Grade 4
38 students
Stratford Hall

The students made paper cut out art inspired by their favourite places in nature, and inspired by local artist Julie Flett.

A statement from each student can be found on their submission.

Cedar Weavings
Grade 5 & 6
18 students
Grandview Elementary

Grade 5,6 & 7
54 students
Charles Dickens Elementary School

Using photography, paint, paper mache, and recycled products, This collection represents the weaving together of the artistic efforts of 54 students to continue the dialogue around Climate Change and rising sea levels.

Kindergarten & Grade 1
70 students
Mount Pleasant Elementary

This work is an ode to the lost creek, known as both the te Statlew headwaters and St George Rainway, which used to run on the east side of the Mount Pleasant Elementary school grounds. We worked collaboratively to weave re-purposed materials into the mesh while mimicking the flow of water, and completed the work with each student creating a 'ghost' salmon through texture rubbings and shiny gold foil.

This project came out of the Jaymie Johnson's residency at Mount Pleasant Elementary as part of the Artist in Residence Studio (AiRS) Program in partnership with the VSB and sponsored by Emily Carr University of Art + Design.