2007 Annual Report Mendel Art Gallery

Summary of Activities with St. John Community
School
2006–07 school year:
Robin Adair was the Mendel Liaison for the first
partnership year. The “Community of Angels”
Project involved angel-making work shops
conducted by Mendel program staff. Art Club was
held Mondays after school with Grades 3, 4/5, 7 and
8 participating. Eight students were involved with
mentorships once a week.
Public and Professional Programs
January–June 2007:
Robin Adair continued as Mendel Liaison.
Workshops included “Impressionist” Workshop
with Grade 3 and “Chinese Dragon” Workshop
with pre-Kindergarten students. We received an
ArtsSmarts grant for SlammED, involving the Grade
8 class and students from Pleasant Hill Community
School and North Park Wilson School. Students
participated in art activities, watched dramatic
performances, received visits from a professional
performance poet, participated in a hip hop
workshop, and were visited by a well known rap
artist in order to prepare for the Slam event.
Slam semi-final competitions were held in their
classrooms. Five finalists represented the school at
the slam final at Off Broadway Art Centre on May
25. Art Club was held Mondays after school. Sixteen
children took part in mentoring partnerships with
Mendel program staff.
September–December 2007:
Robin Adair continued as Liaison for the second
school year of partnership. A number of Mendel
program staff facilitated workshops with the Grade
2, 7, and 8 classes with a total of seven workshops.
Community outreach projects included three art
workshop sessions with parents. Grade 8 students
designed and painted a mural on the wall of the
gym stage. From Oct 22–Nov 25 Grade 7 students
exhibited work in a Circle Park Mall show entitled
“Emerging Faces.” An all-school project in which
students are helping to construct a miniature
landscape began Oct 30th and is projected to
continue into February of 2008. Seven students
participated in mentoring partnerships with Mendel
program staff. Art Club was held on Thursdays after
school.
Summary of Activities with Nutana Collegiate
Mendel Art Gallery 2007 Annual Report
Maskmaking workshop with St. John Community School students. Photo: Robin Adair.
Carol Wylie was hired in September 2007 as Liaison
with Nutana Collegiate, our seventh and newest
partner for the ARTforLIFE program. Special Events
included the attendance of the SaskTel Mendel
Art Caravan at the Nutana Harvest Fair, and
Renée Duddridge’s second-quarter art class made
decorations for the Mendel Art Gallery Christmas
Tree. Five workshops included creating centerpieces
for the Salvation Army Fall Supper, a workshop
for pregnant students, a poetry slam workshop,
designing a new logo for the Canadian Academy
of Travel & Tourism, and making scarecrow
decorations for the Harvest Fair. A design has been
started for a mural outside the Integrated School
Link Services office.
General Guided Programs
In addition to school tours, Guided Programs are
offered by the Mendel to all ages. Program options
include a tour of the exhibitions with or without handson
artmaking, games, and activities. There are very
few limitations on when a group can book, and we
are always willing to discuss specific needs and special
requests. The atmosphere is inspiring, social, and
informal. Professionally trained Program Guides—many
of whom are artists—facilitate the program. Typical
users of this program: Girls Guides/Brownies/Scouts,
ESL classes, convention groups, seniors, birthday parties,
university groups, and other special interest groups.
Total special interest group programs in 2007: 100
tours with 1955 participants.
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