Collection Builders for Social Justice student Maria Hirsi’s art, reflects upon and captures a childhood of basement wall creations, is a mixture of acrylic, pastel and photography. (Submitted/Maria Hirsi)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Youth leadership awards

Local high school’s art program acknowledged

Jun 11, 2020 | 3:00 PM

An extracurricular art program at Carlton Comprehensive Public High School is getting provincial recognition.

Collection Builders for Social Justice is an initiative that aims to help students create their own art collections. Many of the student’s art projects focus on issues related to social justice.

This week it was announced the art program had won a Prarieaction Youth Leadership Award. Along with the recognition the program is eligible to receive a cash award to help it grow.

Melanie Mirasty, a teacher at Carlton who helps oversee the program with Lana Lorenson, said the initiative aims to help guide students who already have some of their own ideas.

“We just provide mentorship for students who are interested in just really expanding their art skills. These types of students who come to us usually have an expansion of ideas that surround a particular topic,” she said.

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Mirasty explained she and Lorenson help students in the program connect with art galleries and other venues that may be interested in showcasing the works they create. Mirasty added they also help students create artist statements along with statements of intent.

One of the students who took part in the program this past year was Maria Hirsi, who has seen her art displayed at three different art galleries, including the John V. Hicks Gallery in P.A.

Mirasty said Hirsi, who is graduating this year, is going to be involved with the program in the future as a mentor. Part of this will include showing students a recorded interview with Hirsi where she speaks about building her collection.

The Carlton art teacher added she hopes to see a time when students and former students play a big role in leading the program.

“I look forward to continuing to do that, the students who graduate from Carlton, for them to be the mentors and for me just to be the guide on the side,” she said.

The cash award which comes alongside the recognition will be helpful according to Mirasty as it could be used to help buy supplies. Moving forward Mirasty said she is hoping to see more opportunities for students to display their work.

“I really do have a vision for this program to even go larger and connect to our community and connect with business owners who have space to show art,” she said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn