September 7, 2011: Halton District School Board high school visual art teachers are set to display the very skills they teach students when it comes to tackling paintings, drawings, photographs and other works.
Starting Monday, September 12, 2011, more than two-dozen teachers will begin showcasing their artwork during a three-week art show at Oakville Town Hall (1225 Trafalgar Rd) called, Front of the Class. The 3rd annual exhibit, free to visitors to attend during Town Hall opening hours, will conclude October 6, 2011.
More than 60 pieces will be in the show, displaying a wide variety of mediums, subject matter and styles.
Hosted by ArtWorks Oakville, an opening reception will take place on Tuesday, September 20 at 6:30 p.m., where people can meet with the teacher artists who are usually busy teaching students the skills of making art. Some of the works will be available for purchase.
ArtWorks is an incorporated, non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting and showcasing visual artists at several public spaces in Oakville.
“Participating in this show helps me to be a better teacher,” says Jolene Schmidt, Grades 9-11 visual arts teacher at T.A. Blakelock High School. “It reminds me that sharing your creative work with others can make you feel vulnerable and exposed. I believe creating something, anything at all, is a profoundly human enterprise and no matter what the outcome, we are better for having undertaken the journey.”
White Oaks Secondary School teacher Christina Annis, co-organizer of Front of the Class, says the works are bound to inspire art viewers.
“Everyone knows that teachers teach but not everyone knows that teachers also enjoy the discovery of learning,” she explains. “The art show encourages participants to test out new ideas and experiment with different media. Also, the show brings teachers together who have a love for the creative process together, which is invigorating and motivating.”
For additional information, contact:
Christina Annis, teacher, White Oaks Secondary School
905-845-5200 or
Ken Gordon, teacher, Lester B. Pearson High School
905-335-0961