A series of thematic Zoom presentations by people making a difference through the arts in communities, ongoingly and especially now, in this time of pandemic. Speakers address what makes for community, what makes for inclusion? They offer advice for young artists just starting out in community practice, and consider the future of community art education and community-engaged art practices, post COVID-19. Conversations were moderated by undergraduate students in Concordia University’s Art Education Department, with their questions and remarks anonymized as text.
This open-ended series is produced by Kathleen Vaughan with the editorial support of Zoe Compton and the video design and editing of Margot Flores Torre.
ARTIST-RUN COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Redwork: The Emperor of Atlantis
Windsor textile and installation artist Catherine Heard presents her Redwork community embroidery project, and discusses its collaborative aspects, both in person (pre-pandemic) and via mail art (now).
ARTISTS IN COMMUNITY-CENTRES AND LOCAL ART SCHOOLS
Landscaping the City
Landscape artist, Concordia PhD student and community educator, Dave LeRue discusses how he learned to teach online, and his design of an online studio drawing course, “Landscaping the City,” he taught through the Pointe-St-Charles Art School, fall 2020 and winter 2021.
ART EDUCATION IN MUSEUMS
EducART, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Museum educator and Concordia University PhD candidate Thibault Zimmer describes the MMFA’s innovative EducART platform, which includes thematic teaching resources linked to the Museum’s collection, and profiles the partnership with Montreal schools.
Independent illustrator and museum educator (La Tohu, McCord Museum, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Musée d’art contemporain)
Josée Lavigne // website
Montreal-based Josée Lavigne offers a frank behind-the-scenes glimpse into the professional life of a museum educator, based on her extensive working history with multiple institutions.
ART HIVES
Art Hives Network
Rachel Chainey // Art Hives’ website
National Coordinator of the Art Hives Network, art therapist and social entrepreneur, Rachel Chainey describes the options that art hives present for artists oriented to community practice, and suggests ways someone might start their own.
ART THERAPY AND ART EDUCATION
First Nations artist and art therapist
Megan Kanerahtenha:wi Whyte // website
As a Kanien’kehá:ka/Mohawk artist and art therapist, Megan Kanerahtenha:wi Whyte describes her own practice working in prisons and in an elementary school in Kahnawake, and considers the special role that the arts can play in promoting social justice in communities.