Hay River (May 23/05) - Students in Hay River are making an art out of recycling. The theme is 'Recycle' for the annual Naaka Showcase, set for May 27 at Diamond Jenness secondary school.

A large mural is almost ready for Diamond Jenness secondary school's upcoming Naaka Showcase. The mural is being created by, clockwise from lower left, Alvin Arcand, Elizabeth Sunrise, art teacher Karen Gelderman, Graham Anderson, Stephanie Patrick, Kari Williams and Jesse Duford. Students A.J. Ahlstrom and Kori Bourne are also working on the project.

Students are creating art by painting and/or drawing on, among other things, a garbage can, an iron, a computer screen and mint tins. They will also frame their work in unique ways, with such things as a bicycle wheel and a snowshoe. The largest project is a 12 by 4-foot vertical mural of northern lights created with recycled countertop laminate.

Art teacher Karen Gelderman hopes it will send a positive message about recycling. "Hopefully, people will think about it."

Make art out of the material

Student Alvin Arcand, 19, says it's better to make art out of the material, rather than to dispose of it into the environment.

Another student, 18-year-old Jesse Duford, says, "It's nice knowing you're recycling stuff."

The countertop laminate scraps were obtained from the territorial Public Works department and KP Woodwright. A couple of sheets were also ordered for certain colours.

Gelderman notes the mural of laminate scraps is possibly a new art form. "I've never heard of it before."

She says a major part of the project has been developing the best system to cut the laminate. "It's kind of a fun medium," she says.

Seven students in the Art 30 class, which is creating the mural, wanted to do it as a special project for Gelderman, who is leaving the school at the end of the school year.

"We wanted to do something big," Arcand says.

Gelderman has been at the school for 14 years, but will join her husband, Jack Keefe, in Fort Simpson. Keefe was formerly the vice-principal at Diamond Jenness, but joined the RCMP last year and has been posted in Fort Simpson.

Arcand says the mural, which will be permanently displayed in the school, will help Gelderman leave her mark behind.

She was one of the founders of a fine arts festival 14 years ago which developed into the Naaka Showcase.

As she is about to leave, the festival is growing. For the first time, works by students from Paul William Kaeser High School in Fort Smith and Chief Sunrise Education Centre on the Hay River Reserve will be included.

"We're trying to make it a regional showcase," Gelderman says.

Along with recycled works, the showcase features many other examples of visual and performing arts.