This piece was created by a group of students at Woodgreen’s Newcomer Youth program under the guidance of artist Cristina Delago. The youths ranged in age from 15 – 18 from the countries: China, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Afghanistan,Russia, Belarus, Bangladesh & Morocco.
Ms. Delago explains the process:
We started the workshop with storytelling. Every student introduced him/herself and told us something about the country they came from and their lives before they came to Canada, they then painted images and memories of their country. We put together 4 groups to work on a larger painting, cutting out parts of their own painting, adding magazine images and painting on top of this.
The groups started to open up with each other and interact on composition, concept, colour and final
painting.Once accomplished this first project we had another session of storytelling, this time on their new life here in Canada and their neighbourhood. This thoughts were then transformed into clay sculpture within the same group.
Students’ comments:
” We had a lot of fun here. We did many different art such as: painting and some else. The people here are very friendly and made us feel at home.”
“It is very useful for us to improve our skills and person. We all very happy and it is very funny. I love here!”
“We learned how to paint together and to work in clay. We learned many things and we think it is very useful.”
“The CN Tower represents Toronto. We added the Canadian loon because it is on the Canadian money and added the maple leaf because it is on the flag .”
“We love Canada.”
“We had a lot of fun with making of the sculptures, we expressed our feelings and cultures.”
“This has been the project where we actually got to realise the importance of our friendships and the
importance of team work. “
