Art In Nature Trail

For any of my followers who live in Alberta or BC or are planning on visiting Banff, Alberta in the summer, there is a gorgeous free outdoor art exhibition (July 1 to September 30) called "Art in Nature Trail". (see the link for all the artist profiles- I love how many female artists are represented!!)

 I've gone for the past few years when I just happened to stumble across it one day. Now I try to visit every summer. It's a really peaceful walk along the Bow River aways from the hoards of tourists shopping in the Banff town center. 

Begun in 2021, it has become a meticulously curated collection of over 65 awe-inspiring art installations, masterfully crafted by esteemed Canadian Artists. These creations span a diverse range of mediums, each piece carefully selected to harmonize with the surrounding natural landscape. This exhibition isn't inside a gallery, and you don't need a ticket. Beginning at the Banff Park Museum, travel along the Bow River Trail, across the pedestrian bridge, towards Bow Falls, and then return back to Central Park via the new Nancy Pauw Bridge. 

Every time I've walked it, I've always seen deer, so I always look forward to that!

This was a sign at Moraine Lake, about an hour away from Banff.
The Rockies have attracted artists for over a hundred years.

These were created by local school children. 

 

Wax Resist Watercolour Flowers

Another great lesson I tried from Deep Space Sparkle!

The key to this working out well and having a real wax resist effect, is to really emphasize pressing hard with the white wax crayons. My kids didn't so you couldn't really see the effect. But the kids enjoyed it and they turned out nice nonetheless. Grade 4 and 5's at work below!

 

Summer Sunglasses Self Portrait

 

This was the perfect last week of school project for my Grade 4-6 class! I found it on the Art Projects For Kids website- Kathy has so many great resources and free handouts that are super handy for this time of year!

I reviewed face proportions with students and then provided them with mirrors (from Dollarama).

They drew them in pencil, then coloured with pencil crayons.

 

Plains People Painted Buffalo Hides Art Project

In Canada, June is designated as National Indigenous History Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the rich history, heritage, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Additionally, June 21st is recognized as National Indigenous Peoples Day, a specific day to highlight Indigenous cultures and achievements. 

Why do non-Indigenous Canadians need to learn about Indigenous history?

For many Canadians, the history of Indigenous Peoples and Canada was, until recently, unknown. Generations of Canadians have gone through their lives without knowing about residential schools, the historic and ongoing impacts of the Indian Act, the significance of treaties, or the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to the mosaic of Canada. 

Canada is often recognized as a leader in reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples, due to its commitment to recognizing Indigenous rights, addressing historical injustices, and engaging in nation-to-nation relationships. While significant progress has been made, the journey towards reconciliation is ongoing and faces ongoing challenges. 

So in art class, my Grade 4-6 students learned about and made their own versions of painted buffalo hides of the Plains Peoples. We looked at photos and watched videos. 

You can find many buffalo hide templates online. We painted them with brown liquid watercolours first and let dry. Then they sketched on their designs using pencils. Once students finished drawing and colouring their designs using pencil crayons, they cut them out and glued them onto brown construction paper.