Allan Bishop
Special to The Chief
Mamquam Elementary School students from Kindergarten through to grade 6 are getting their hands dirty making clay art. Artist-in-residence and local potter Kay Austen is introducing clay to the budding artists at Mamquam Elementary during the weeks between Feb. 13 and March 21.
Austen said the students all had unique reactions to the material.
"They come to a material like clay and anything is possible as far as they are concerned. They get very excited about what they are doing."
Austen is doing a different project with each grade. The kindergarteners are doing picture frames, grade ones are making lanterns and Mrs. Watson's grade 1/2 split are making hand bowls.
"As we go up I tried to fit it in with the curriculum," said Austen.
"Grade 5s are making a Viking village and grade 4s are doing totem poles."
Austen's residency came together last winter.
"I'm a local potter and one of the PAC members, Andrea Beaubien, approached me at my home during my Christmas show and asked if I'd be the artist-in-residence."
The residency was like a homecoming for Austen, who worked as a high school art teacher in England and has taught all elementary school grades.
Austen said she hasn't had time for her own potting during her residency, but is happy she made the commitment with Mamquam Elementary.
"I'd be very happy to do it again. It was so much fun. I loved it."
"Hearing about what we have in Squamish, lets hope it's just the first rung of the ladder, said Austen, remarking on Squamish being found the second most artistically employed community in Canada.
Austen said there has been a very positive reaction to her residency. Though she could only commit herself to one residency a year, she would like to see the program grow.
"I'm hoping that each spring something like this happens."
