The Gallery’s latest community engagement art projects were called #myessential. These projects connected local youth with a professional mural artist to create a really dynamic mural in our Gallery space reflecting on the question “what is essential to you” – urging critical reflection on what we deem vital as we navigate this new normal of living in a global pandemic.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions – the local grade 9 art class we connected with participated in a three-session drawing workshop with Durham mural artist JP Morel and our education team at the Gallery. The collaboration was an example of the innovative ways in which vitural platforms can be utilized, by allowing real time imaginative responses and creations by local youth answering relevant questions on what is considered essential now more than ever.
Read more on this great project, see a virtual tour through our Digital arts portal here: https://tomthomsonartgallery.wixsite.com/digitalportal/myessential
The Bluewater District School board covered a wonderful article on this project which highlights the whole engagement process really well: https://www.bwdsb.on.ca/newsroom/b_w_d_s_b_news/students_collaborate_with_local_artist_on_mural