Another season of the Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD), Art Academy is wrapping up, and this year students chose to make wearable art and turned the College Park auditorium into a jungle using recycled materials.
Welcome to the Jungle opened on Thursday, June 4 for parents and the community to immerse themselves among the big cats, monkeys and jungle foliage created by some 60 LPSD students.
“Art Academy students have made outfits and its all jungle-themed. There’s trees and vines. A lot of animals and stuff like that,” says grade 6 artist, Mila.
Coordinator of the project, Brandi Hofer says the current generation benefits from the ability to problem solve and being adaptable.
“Those are the most applicable skills that I think they will need in the future. That creative brain (to make) something out of recycled materials or out of nothing.”
Hofer, parents and the school community brought in lots of recyclables in the last few weeks which were used to make up the jungle atmosphere. The final preparation phase for the students happened in the last three weeks says grade 6 artist, Sloan.
“We have been working on it for the last two to three weeks. And inside there’s a bunch of blue lights and other little details to make it really special,” says Sloan. “We go to Art Academy twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
Both Mila and Sloan made the jungle vines from paper.
The art show is not just in 3D and interactive, but also allows for an immersive experience for the audience with the young artists making wearable art.
“This is a student-led program, meaning we observe the students and how they are interacting creatively in their environment and what they are interested in,” says Hofer.
Garde 6 student, Sarah who is in her first enjoyed learning new drawing skills.
“Learning how to draw a lot of things like animal portraits,” says Sarah.
Hofer sees the importance of the students art lessons beyond the classroom.
“Art is the safe bridge where you can feel good and safe while learning hard things. You’re creating new neuron pathways but through art and creativity,” says the art coordinator. “I think it’s one of the most under-utilized skills. It’s so heavily discounted in society and it’s the most important skill set for these young people to have. And we are making it fun.”
Hofer sees art as fostering out of the box problem solving skills going forward.
There are still 10-15 spots in the program if any LPSD students want to sign up for the final few weeks of the school year.
