Two years ago, students at Aldergrove Community Secondary unveiled a clay mural community art project that continues to delight local residents and visitors alike.
Guided by master ceramist Santo Mingosa and ACSS art teacher Susan Gorris, the mural is described as a snapshot of motion, and youth, and bright irrepressible dreams. The ACSS student ceramic team took such pride and joy in their creation, that when many of them began what would be their graduating year last September, they decided they wanted to attempt a second project.
This time however, they would work during their Ceramics 11/12 class to create a permanent work of art that the team could gift as a legacy for their school.
Under the guidance once again of Susan Gorris, an image was designed that would reflect the ACSS School motto, DREAM, BELIEVE, ACHIEVE, along with an accompanying image that would reflect each of these for the ACSS student body. The Team members individually proposed each of their ideas to the group; finally one image was agreed upon and constructed taking in many of the ideas of the Team.
From the outset, Gorris saw the project as a valuable learning opportunity.
“As a teacher of ceramics, I also wanted to offer the students an opportunity to work on a public artwork that would entail an above and beyond level of commitment and technical skill. Among many of the lessons learned in this project I am hoping that collaborative skill-building, clay preparation, application of clay onto a large wall, the creation of a low-relief art work on a large scale, discussions on public vs. private art-making, an understanding of this mural’s historical precedents around the world and the use of the design elements to effectively create a symbolic image are some of the important issues retained long after these students leave ACSS.”
To assist with the historical context of the work, Gorris and the students turned once again to Santo Mignosa who was invited to give a presentation on ceramics around the world. The talk was opened up to interested members of the community as well, many of whom raved about the discussion afterwards.
Said one attendee, “Santo’s presentation was a real treat, very inspiring! Fun and entertaining
free speech...he is a real artist with passion.”
While another guest appreciated being in the company of the students: “Thank you for a very enjoyable morning of ceramic slides with Santo!! I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was great watching slides with so many young people that are interested in the same thing I am.”
Equally impressed were the students such as grade 9 student Kennedy who shared, “He was awesome... so many different ways to use clay!”
The sentiments were echoed by a grade 12 senior ceramics student who came away inspired: “I learned so much from Santo... he loves what he does and has helped me with some ideas about our mural.”
Following the inspiration provided by Santo Mignosa’s slide lecture, the Mural Project Team at ACSS worked diligently at completing the project.
The entire wall of clay was cut into 183 tiles that were carefully stored for drying. Once dry the tiles were fired in the Art Department kilns, then fired a second time after each one has been glazed.
The completed clay mural has now been installed in the courtyard at ACSS.
The eight students who made up the ACSS ceramic mural team are to be congratulated for the hard work they put in this spring, successfully creating the most beautiful mural depicting two hands laying bricks onto a very expressive wall of many more bricks. The work represents the students’ depiction of building achievement on the belief of our dreams.
By SANDY WAKELING, Langley School District