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Operated by the Calgary Contemporary Arts Society May 10 to May 26, 2007 |
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Platinum: 20 Years of Children's Art 20th Annual Exhibition of Children’s Art
This is the 20th, a Platinum Year the North Mount Pleasant and Wildflower Arts Centres have presented an exhibition comprised of children’s art. The show has previously been held at various locations: the Mayor’s Office, Municipal Atrium, Gulf Gallery and the Devonian Garden Gallery. In 1995, the Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts was selected as the official host for the children’s art exhibit. Since then, the Triangle Gallery has enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to become a vital stimulant to various inter-community activities including the Calgary International Children’s Festival.
The Arts Centres, operated through the Department of Recreation of The City of Calgary, employ artists within our community to teach a variety of programs designed to stimulate, nurture, and develop children’s creativity. Acquiring proficiency in art requires learning how to see, interpret and make sense of peripheral stimuli. The education programs in visual arts provide children with the tools needed to create meaning and to express their thoughts and feelings in visual forms. Using a variety of materials and techniques, children gain knowledge in the practical use of traditional and contemporary tools, materials and media.
Join us in promoting and celebrating the artistic achievements produced by these junior creative intellects! Jacek Malec Juror's Statement Platinum celebrates the 20th Anniversary of exhibitions of art by children in the programs at the North Mount Pleasant and Wildflower Arts Centres and hosted by the Triangle Gallery ofVisual Arts. As always, we look forward to seeing the creative expression of young people who make
Congratulations to all the young artists, their families and friends, visitors, the staff and instructors of the Arts Centres, and the Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts for its part in Platinum: 20 Years of Children’s Art. Tim Huesken and Katherine Ylitalo List of Images (top to bottom):
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A Celebration of Children's Art 
The art works in this exhibition were created by children (ages 3 to 17) enrolled in art programs this past year at both Arts Centres. 
There are refreshing and distinctive qualities found in the art produced by children. Spontaneity, purity, unencumbered expression, and a lack of cynicism – qualities adult artists often struggle to attain – are just a few of the characteristics inherent in the art of children. These works have the power to move us in unexpected ways and take us back to a time in our life where everything was good and 
promising. Examined in the broader scope, an art exhibition of this kind provides anexcellent opportunity to create a bond between the arts community and thecommunity at large. In addition, it allows children to connect with, and feel a sense of belonging to their community. Given that art is intrinsically connected to the culture from which it originates, the art created by these children not only give us insight into their own personal psyche, but also demonstrate how societal values have changed over time. 
art with fresh eyes and inquiring spirits. Artwork in many media by children from ages 3 through 17, represent a variety of programs: Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Cartooning, Performing Arts, Preschool Art, and Arts Venture Day Camps between June 2006 and March 2007. Each age has its own strengths, from the freedom and clarity of five and six year olds to the observation and insight of teenagers. 
Artist Tim Huesken comments “This show is a highlight of all the aspects at the Arts Centres”. The 20th Anniversary is a perfect occasion to celebrate the Arts Centres in our city. The City of Calgary initiated Wildflower Arts Centre in 1978 and North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre in 1985, and both continue to offer high quality art programs as part of the Arts and Culture Division of Recreation. In the past five years the role of the Arts Centres has become increasingly important because they provide affordable, quality visual arts experiences for young people. Schools partner with them for custom programs, families go to them for courses throughout the year. Children find the chance to make art an exciting alternative to computer games or highly structured, competitive activities. The staff and instructors at the Arts Centres, all artist themselves, are very committed to the students and give them innovative projects that allow room for individual expression. Curator Katherine Ylitalo thinks the Arts Centres are like Petri dishes, providing the medium for creative thinking. “The Arts Centres are a place where students can feel comfortable being artists.” 