THUNDER BAY – Students and Kingsway Park Public School aren’t letting the COVID-19 pandemic stifle their artistic creativity.
On Thursday, about 18 students in the fine arts academy at the Thunder Bay school joined artist Steve Gerow of The Creative for an online art class, a classroom activity they’ve been looking forward to for several weeks.
“It’s such a great way for us to come altogether,” said Robyn Tenkula, a teacher in the Grade 7 and Grade 8 program.
“If we were back in the classroom, we would be out doing this kind of work anyway... So I just thought how could we make this so it could be happening at home for our kids, who are probably bored or wanting to socialize with their peers. This gives them the opportunity to do some art, to be able to talk and chat with their friends, and to be able to chat to me and ask me questions.”
Students have been learning from home since mid March, when the province closed all publicly funded schools to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, a measure that will be in place until at least the end of May, if not longer.
Gerow, who developed a love of art as a child while trapped in a full body cast, said it’s the perfect time for youngsters to explore their own affinity for being creative, adding he’s glad to be a part of the learning process.
Teaching online isn’t the same as doing it face to face, but when all is said and done, it’s not really all that different, he said.
“I was nervous,” he admitted. “I did the first class with Fort William First Nation and it was amazing. The feedback was really good and I had a blast. I can’t wait to do more.”
Gerow said the goal is to encourage students to have an appreciation for being creative and the process behind it.
“It’s an escape from anything that might be bad or bothering you. If you can get to doing something creative, it’ll make you feel good. It’s a pat on the back for yourself. For me, it’s an appreciation of First Nations culture in Canada,” he said.
The online classes have also helped Gerow and his partner, Deena Kruger, salvage their business, which has been a labour of love for the past couple of years.
The two artists have been putting together unpainted kits, featuring Gerow’s Indigenous-inspired drawings, complete with paint and brushes, and shipping them off to students to learn the fine art of painting.
Kruger said she expected to ship possibly 100 kits.
They’ve already packaged up about 600, with inquiries coming from around the country.
“You can just paint at home and you can watch Steve online on our Facebook page. We’ve done step-by-step videos of him, so you’ve got some help. You’re not just doing this alone.”
Kruger said taking the time to do art, especially when everyone’s lives are upside down, is important, like going to the gym or committing to eat more salad.
“It’s a form of self-care. It really is. You are taking time to be creative and kind of release whatever it is you’re thinking onto that canvas and taking that time for yourself,” she said. “And then you’re creating something that’s really beautiful in the end.”
