The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority has enlisted the talent of high school students to help spread awareness of environmental issues and spark hope for the future.
Ursuline College Chatham students in Nicole McEachran’s Grade 11 art class have created a variety of pieces that will be featured Jan. 20 during the formal opening of the conservation authority’s urban stewardship event, Imagine McGregor Through the Eyes of Youth. The art show opening, being held at the William Street Café in Chatham, is scheduled from 6 pm to 8 pm
When it came to providing direction to her students, McEachran said she left their choices wide open “and they just took it from there.”
She said the students chose a topic that interested them and did some research to develop their art work for the show.
Noting the students’ work “turned out awesome,” McEachran said they “came up with some really different pieces of art works with various medium used and different sizes.”
She said some students took a positive approach to stewardship while others took “the approach of the negative effects if we don’t take that stewardship approach.”
Student Sabrina Knelsen’s work depicts the Earth hanging by a string with a pair of scissors threatening to cut it.
“It’s just to show there’s people holding on to the Earth, trying to protect it and keep is safe and healthy,” the 16-year-old said.
Knelsen said the work also shows that other people ignore their environmental obligations by littering, chopping down trees and adding to pollution.
Fellow Ursuline College student Elizabeth Forgeron’s art work shows a dying fish in the polluted Thames River.
“I’m more concerned about the wildlife there and how the water of the Thames River might affect the life around it,” she said.
Alyssa Broeders, a community conservation educator and urban stewardship technician, said organizing an art show is a first for the Lower Thames Valley authority.
She said the conservation authority was able to secure grants from Together CK and Wildlife Habitat Canada to offer “new innovative ways to engage with the public,” thanks to her predecessor, Anastasia Heuvelmans.
“She basically wanted to bridge between art and the environment because art is such a great way to connect with people and get people thinking about things,” Broeders said.
Those planning to attend the free grand opening that will be curated by Phil Vanderwall, director of the Thames Art Gallery, are asked to register a spot at www.eventbrite.ca/e/504557654527.
The art works will also remain on display at the cafe after the event for a time.