In June of 2022, The Existential Art Gallery of Scarborough, more endearingly known as “Gallery X”, visited Kennedy Public School in Scarborough. Peter Marsh, an artist himself, and a member of the Gallery X board of directors, put one of our aims to work, to provide educational resources where possible. He talked to a large number of students assembled in the library about the history of Canadian Art with an accompanying Power-point display of images from our earliest indigenous collections, to Cornelius Krieghoff’s, and Paul Kane’s works, to our most modern contemporary painters. He also brought along a large number of original Canadian works of art from his personal collection so that students could look at original works close up and examine the use of various media and ideas.
Young students don’t always enjoy the possibility of excursions to an art gallery so bringing original art and historical examples to students right in their own educational institution is a bonus to their education. Marsh says “The students were interested, very attentive, and most appreciative, and we will do our best at Gallery X to extend this type of practice.” Students, teachers, parents , and the Gallery X Board are enthusiastic about continuing this service. It has all been assisted by Board of Education Trustee, Manna Wong, who has been most useful at every step of the way for this fledgling service.
