IMAGES OF MUSKOKA'S PAST
Gravenhurst Public School
April 6 - 15, 2011
Project Coordinator: Jen Morgan Anderson
Initial Project Planning: Jamie-Lee New
Teachers: Mrs. Beamish, Mr. Bouchard, Mrs. Buie
Artists: Gina Denne, Tara Gilchrist, Virginia Hastings, Jenny Kirkpatrick
Images of Muskoka's Past was a multi-disciplinary arts project involving Grade 6, 7 & 8 students at Gravenhurst Public School. The students interpreted the history and heritage of Gravenhurst through photography, pottery and video documentary.
GPS teachers chose 6 students to work with Huntsville film maker Virginia Hastings, who helped them to create a professional documentary of the entire project.
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Watch the video they created:
A short version of the video:
The first session began with a photography lesson by Jenny Kirkpatrick, a photographer from Huntsville. She spoke to the students about composition, lighting, camera angles and experimental techniques. Next, the students donned old-fashioned clothing and participated in a photo shoot in the studio Jenny had set up on the school stage.
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The next day the students, teachers and artists took a field trip to the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre at the Muskoka Wharf. Museum volunteers in historical costumes guided the students through the amazing displays of Gravenhurst's history. The students took photos using the techniques they had learned from Jenny the day before.
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Photos: Jenny Kirkpatrick
After the museum, the group did a walkabout of downtown Gravenhurst, taking photos of some of the historical buildings they encountered.
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The next day, Jenny showed the students how to use Photoshop to import themselves into the photos they had taken. Check out the slideshow of the images the students created:
After the photography part of the project was complete, potters Gina Denne from Severn Bridge and Tara Gilchrist from Dorset helped the students create clay tiles based on their photos. They demonstrated additive and subtractive sculpture techniques, encouraging the students to create interesting textures and patterns.
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Gina Denne |
Tara Gilchrist |
A tile in progress |
The completed tiles look fantastic!
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The tiles, photos and video documentary were displayed at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre for two weeks in May. The display then traveled to The Rosseau, a JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Minett, for the "Creating Cultures of Place: A Culture & Tourism Round Table Discussion" on Friday, June 3rd.
Special thanks to the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre
Funding for this project was provided by:
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Program Enhancement Fund |
Muskoka Lakes |
Gravenhurst Rotary Club Rotary Club of Bracebridge - |
Cultural Strategic |