This year’s school workshops have gone virtual! The AGGV’s workshops for school-aged learners look a lot different this year, and we’re excited to share them with you! This project started with a heartfelt conversation between local artists Bradley Yuxwelupton Dick, Farheen HaQ, and the AGGV’s Educator of School & Family Programs, Jennifer Van de Pol.
We asked questions like:
- What can we offer young learners and teachers that will be meaningful and supportive at this time?
- How does art teach us about being compassionate and gentle with ourselves, others, and the lands we walk on?
- What stories and art making can we share, that will ground us in our bodies and these lands, and inspire us to keep learning?
Whether you are a school teacher, a parent/caregiver doing home-learning, or a grandparent wanting to gift your grandchild with two engaging one hour pre-recorded online workshops, led by two inspiring artists and leaders based in Victoria BC, this is for you!
The first workshop entitled “Song & Storytelling” features artist and Lekwungen Cultural Facilitator Bradley Yuxwelupton Dick. Bradley shares The “Paddle Welcome Song”, welcoming everyone to Lekwungen lands, today known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations (Victoria, BC). Hear Lekwungen stories and a “territorial acknowledgement” by both the AGGV and Bradley. You are invited to practice a land acknowledgement wherever you are. In the second part of this video, Bradley shares the “Story of Camosung”, an origin story about the Lekwungen’s close relationship to the lands and waters of the area. Create an artwork at the end of each video, using all of the senses, and share it with each other.
The second workshop entitled “Nurturing Through Artmaking” features Farheen HaQ, a South Asian Muslim Canadian artist. Farheen shares how to take care of yourself and others through art making. Learn about what inspires her as an artist, create a “Rangoli Mandala” as a class, small group, or on your own, and explore how art and being mindful are connected. You will be invited to pause the video and reflect in a journal as you go, to connect explorations to your everyday life and studies in meaningful ways.
It is truly an honour to work with Bradley and Farheen. They are not only skilled, celebrated contemporary artists based right here in Victoria, but they are also passionate educators and leaders in this community. Check out our website here to sign up for these workshops or to learn more about the artists.
Feature Image: Farheen HaQ, video still from online workshops, courtesy of the artist. Online workshops filmed by local multi-media artist, Eli Hirtle.
