Inspired by visiting some of Vancouver’s Biennale art projects, Richmond’s Quilchena Elementary school students have created their own permanently-installed public art to celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary.
The word ‘biennale’ is an Italian word meaning every other year and is commonly used to describe a large-scale art exhibition. Students from Grades 3 to 7 participated in Vancouver Biennale’s Big Ideas in-school program, which provided the school a financial grant and an artist to help them explore and create their own art pieces.
“Identity, place and time was the overarching theme,” explained principal Janet Powell. “The kids started out by investigating their own families; how over time their own families came to Richmond. We then turned it to the school as we are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year.”
After learning and sharing their findings about their families, students were asked what Quilchena Elementary school and its school nickname (the Cyclones) means to them. Their next assignment was to come up with images, sentences or phrases to show what they want a visitor to their school to know about them and their school. This then lead to how they can express that explanation in art and what it would look like. This is where their imaginations went a little wild, noted Powell.
“They came up with some wonderful ideas that would cost millions of dollars,” Powell said with laughter. “The students were then told it had to be two dimensional, not three.”
One of the ideas was a 25-foot inukshuk, welcoming all who visit the school.
The students then chose to express themselves by creating 60 pavers, with artwork created by students collaborating with each other. The pavers will be placed near the main entrance and the inukshuk will be represented in one of them.
“We chose the symbol of two inukshuks holding the world,” said Grade 5 student Shaan. “Our message is that Quilchena Cyclones are united as a community that respects you as a friend.
Grade 6 student Mariam and her partners created puzzle pieces as their design, explaining that like a puzzle piece, each person on earth is of a different shape, size and colour.
“Each piece, linking with a distinctive piece, is like everyone who is part of our community accepting others,” Mariam said. “As our community grows, the puzzle will seem like it is almost completed, but really, it feels as if this puzzle representing Quilchena community is never ending because whoever comes along on our journey building the puzzle is always welcome to join.”
Having over half the entire school participate in this project is an example of Quilchena Elementary school’s educators embracing the new educational curriculum’s applied design section, which includes researching and creating.
“The process has been extremely powerful as students have done personal reflections and participated in group discussions to try to put into symbols and words what our school means to them,” Powell said. “They drew, sculpted and collaged to make mock-ups of their designs. Students have developed their inquiry, communication and problem-solving skills in order to hone their ideas and agree on a design and message.”
Quilchena Elementary school’s 40th anniversary celebration will be held on May 27th, which is when the pavers will be formally unveiled.
