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On July 13th we gathered near our spot to work together on our art pieces. We shared a meal and some snacks, and then began our art making process. Our art was inspired by our inquiry spot, and we each chose different aspects of our space to draw.
Allison used pencil and pencil crayons to draw pinecones and the large eastern white pine tree that is next to the foot path. Keira experimented (and got messy!) using sap from one of the trees. Sheana used oil pastels to depict the trees and plants at our spot. Vanessa worked with pencil crayons to create her art piece. Jenn chose watercolour pencil crayons to draw the eastern white pine tree, and Emma used water colour pencils and pencil to create her artwork. We are looking forward to sharing our creations with the rest of the cohort!
As we drew, Keira shared a local Indigenous legend she learned about during her practicum. There was once a devastating forest fire and all the animals and birds were trying to escape. Many animals were able to run away, but tiny mice could not run fast enough. They asked trees for help. The Douglas fir trees had the mice climb up their fire resistant trunk and hide in their pine cones to survive the fire. This is why the Douglas fir cones look the way they do – you can see the mouse feet and tails poking out from underneath the pinecone scales.
As we continued drawing (and snacking), we reflected on the yearlong inquiry process and the relationships we’ve built with each other during this project. The connections we’ve created with each other was a highlight of our time in the BEd program, and we hope to stay connected as we embark on the next stages of our career.
How is art influenced by sense of place? How can we bring land-based teachings into art making?