Exshaw School celebrates Alberta Arts Days
Posted By Hamish MacLean/hamish@canmoreleader.com
Posted 4 months ago
Exshaw Arts Days, September 23, 2009
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Exshaw School showed off their talents to kick off Alberta Arts Days last week.
Arts Days, in its second year, was celebrated in theatres, galleries and schools alike. The government of Alberta’s Culture and Community Spirit website said that there were over 570 celebrations in 110 communities this year.
While minister of culture and community spirit Lindsay Blackett toured the province, minister of education Dave Hancock spent the afternoon in attendance at the celebrations in Exshaw.
“I’m a supporter of the idea that art and music and culture are a part of education, they enliven education, they make it interesting and it also helps with results,” Hancock said. “To participate in the Arts Days program that minister Blackett has established we try to encourage schools to engage fully in that program and to celebrate the arts on Arts Days.”
The Grade 2 class was the first to present. They showed some small sculptures they made for the day. Students were instructed to make a sculpture of what makes them happy. Answers ranged from owls, cats, and birthday cakes to the school.
Elder Gerald Powderface was the first student from Morley to attend Exshaw School. He remembered bussing out of school early to get home to safety during the Cuban missile crisis. Powderface spoke words of encouragement to the students.
“This education is a tool to use in the future,” Powderface said.
Trustee Amanda Kelly brought forward words of encouragement for the children.
“Pablo Picasso, the famous artist, told us that all children are artists,” she told the assembly. “The trouble is how to remain an artist as you grow up. . . . . May you do art your whole life.”
The afternoon ended with a round dance which saw Hancock participate.
“This is very neat to be part of this celebration,” he said. “Not just the arts, but cross-culturally and celebrating dance and music — and of course the Grade 2 students with their plasticine molds, and what makes them happy . . . .”
