Students from Blood Tribe, Calgary combine for professional art gallery showing, sale

March 8, 2016. Artwork created by students from Grades 6-8 at Tatsikiisaapo’p Middle School on the Blood Nation and from Grades 5-9 at Sir John Franklin School in Calgary will be on display and for sale at Studio C in Calgary until March 30. The collaboration between the schools created art based on the theme “Truth and Reconciliation.” Andrea Fox, art program instructor at Tatsikiisaapo’p Middle School and Kainai Board of Education, was approached by instructor Ray Luu with the Calgary Board of Education, to collaborate on the project for their annual art show. Both sets of students researched important historical and current First Nations issues, then created art projects based on what they learned. The projects address various cultural issues, perspectives, and understanding around truth and reconciliation, as envisioned by the youth. The large collection of work ranges from photo prints, paintings, mixed media and sculptures, to ink blots on stretched canvas. The art show, Aa’sitapiwa – “All the Young People,” is the first time students from the Blood Tribe will have their artwork on display and for sale in a professional gallery in a larger metropolitan area. Proceeds from the sale of the artwork will benefit the Calgary Urban Project Society to support educational programming. Fox says the University of Lethbridge and the Southern Alberta Art Gallery have expressed interest in showcasing the art when it’s completed its run at Studio C.