Student artists representing every school in the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board have their work up for bid in the board’s first ever art auction.
Included are 105 folk art paintings, created by students from Grades 1 to 12, several teachers and four local professional artists.
Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and student programs at Lynnwood Arts in Simcoe.
Chris Rait, arts consultant with the board, runs workshops for students in rented gallery space at Lynnwood.
“Student art often looks folksy – not perfectly in proportion,” said Rait of his idea last year to produce a folk art show.
The project required a lot of preparation. The construction class at St. John’s College in Brantford made all the wooden frames, which teachers and other volunteers spent hours painting white.
Rait had lead teachers pick two or three “arts-minded” students from each school to participate and “give them a chance to shine.”
Rait ordered 10-by-10 canvasses for the students, who were introduced to the work of renowned Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis. They also participated in talks by four professional artists involved in the project: Bruce (The House) Milner, Liz Barrett Milner, Ian Bell and Ann Duwyn, whose work is part of the auction.
The students were instructed to include either a structure or an animal in their paintings.
“We got some of the Port Dover pier, the Bell Homestead, Glenhyrst, Dairee Delite,” said Rait. “It’s a great range of things kids think are important.”
The art has been hung gallery style at Lynnwood, giving it a cohesive look. Rait said an opening night gala at the arts center was so successful he had to send his wife to a Simcoe grocery store “to pick up more cookies and juice boxes.”
The community project, said Rait, fits perfectly with the school board’s theme: We are Many, We are One.
“The way the art is hung, they complement and contrast each other. It’s almost like a quilt.”
In-person viewing of the collection will be held at Lynnwood Arts, 21 Lynnwood Ave. in Simcoe, on Saturday from noon to 4 pm
Online viewing and bidding is open and can be accessed at www.bhncdsb.ca/news/bhncdsb-art-auction. Bidding closes on Monday.
Winning bidders can pick up their art at Lynnwood on Feb. 8 from 10 am to 4 pm and Feb. 9 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.