Pubdate: Sat, 14 Dec 2013
Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald (CN SN)
Copyright: 2013 Prince Albert Daily Herald
Contact:  http://www.paherald.sk.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1918
Author: Tyler Clarke

CARLTON COMPREHENSIVE STUDENTS ATTACK ADDICTIONS THROUGH ART PROJECTS

Taking on the world of addictions through artistry, Grade 9 students 
at Carlton Comprehensive High School are helping those recovering 
from addictions to cope.

"It's a very innovative project for the Grade 9 kids specifically to 
get their minds around that," addictions counsellor John Simpson said 
on reviewing the pieces of art.

Students painted images and messages on several doors, which will go 
up on rotation at the Metis Addiction Council of Saskatchewan Inc.'s 
Prince Albert centre on 19th Street East.

"Our clients were really impressed that kids did these things, and 
kids came up with the ideas and represented their ideas so strongly - 
so profoundly - they hit right to the core of things," Simpson said.

"Really, they couldn't have been any more clear in their message than 
a professional would have been."

Visual arts teacher Sarah Krawec said that students were asked to 
express societal concerns through their artwork, with many of her 
Grade 9 students selecting addictions.

"The things that they spoke about in their work were very much 
connected to things that they witnesses or experienced in their 
personal lives," Krawec said.

"I've had lots of (student) bursts of emotions - lots of personal 
stories shared in the class, either in the class or private - things 
that hit close to home."

In a summary student Tucker James wrote for his piece, he noted that 
his door "was a very important project ... because it wasn't just for 
a mark, it wasn't just for fun, it was also to let people know that 
unfortunate things are happening in our community."

"Issues like addiction and homelessness aren't far-away problems - 
they're right here and they are very real."

Randall Rabbitskin joined a group of peers in creating a door with 
two hands - "one helping the other into the sunlight and out of the 
fire," he explained, adding that the piece's intent was to let those 
at the Metis Addiction Council of Saskatchewan centre "know that 
people are there for them."

Sarah Augustine took on depression and Reece Stewart took on poor 
body image, with her group's door featuring a quote attributed to 
Marilyn Monroe: "To all the girls that think you're fat, because 
you're not a size zero, you're the beautiful one. It's society who's ugly."

Simpson said that he was impressed not only by what the students 
managed to produce, but that their school allowed them time to 
consider the important issue of addiction at such an early age - an 
issue that he said is far too often swept under the carpet. "Every 
family has an alcohol or drug problem in it," he said. "It might not 
be directly your family, but your uncle, your brother or your grandpa 
- - it's a universal problem."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom