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ARTS MIND WEEK & ARTS ALIVE, The Paint Challenge
MMHS ARTS continued the tradition of a mindful Arts week in support of Mental Health Awareness Week, with Drama, Music and Visual Arts all offering multiple activities and performances, including the Spring Concert. Creating Art and enjoying the creativity of others are beneficial to our well-being, as studies have proven. Arts Alive!!, the one hour Paint Challenge, continued to be a highlight of the week, with over 20 painters producing original works, creating a mindfulness Gallery in the atrium that was also featured within the set of Drama Production that closed out the week. Congratulations to all participants for building mindfulness, skills-sets and resumes.
- GALLERY 44 - Centre for Contemporary Photography
MMHS Photography students work was, again featured at Gallery 44, in EMERGENCE, within the physical gallery space. Over twenty students had work featured in the show and the work was also shared with an MMHS Audience in our feature showcase, upon return from the Gallery. It was a wonderful opportunity to show and share work as well as build resumes and future possibilities.
Once again, the work of an MMHS student was chosen by Gallery 44 as the image used to represent and promote the show. Congratulations, Jeslyn.
Jeslyn Z., Milliken Mills High School, Reaching Out, 2022.
VISUAL ARTS DISCOVERY - An Open Lunchtime Creative Workshop Series
Fostering Student Leadership & Mindfulness, Through Creativity
MMHS Visual Arts continues to offer creative workshops and experiences. MMHS Grade Nine Student, Shagana, is our most recent Visual Arts Discover Designer, introducing finger-knitting to MMHS students, through a well-designed workshop that celebrated the origins of knitting and entrepreneurship and artistry of Black knitters/fibre artists and creative business from North America, including: Jonah Larson, Xenobia Bailey, Louis Boria & Maurice Greene. Olivia and Shagana teamed up to prepare, organize and deliver the experience that was attended by a full classroom of over 25 students, all who left with a new skill and an original knit piece. The workshop was popular enough that a second workshop was offered. Participants commented on how mindfully mellow the experience was and admired each others creative handiwork as well as being inspired by the work and success of Black Fibre-Arts Creatives.
Consider coming out to our next event... or being our next workshop leader. We can support you to develop your viable short workshop ideas, creative problem-solving, leadership skills and resume. Events will be posted in our
Visual Arts Google Classroom and on the announcements.
Celebrating Student Representation and Identity
MMHS NEW ENTRANCE GALLERY
By invitation of the Principal, MMHS students have established a new gallery space to showcase their strong efforts and creative experession. This year has featured a rotating portrait gallery, celebrating student identity, creativity and representation. The gallery was contructed in a sustainable manner, using re-styled existing frames created by Personal Alertnative Education's, TEAM, who all showed great attention to detail. The Gallery has been hung and maintained by our excellent Head of Caretaking, who, not surprisingly, has a great eye for creative order and has, quite actually, become a curator of the gallery space. Thanks to All for your efforts.
VISUAL DESIGN EXCELLENCE - ALENA's
Local Design, Representing the Community
Recent MMHS Visual Design Graduate, Alena, has put her design skills to use to launch her own candle company. Her skills and awareness are evident in unified line of products and brand design. We have seen the products in-person and love the subtle aesthetic and distinct nuanced fragrances. This new company understands that creativity, contextual awareness, visual communication and interrelated design strategies are foundational aspects of developing and marketing products and product lines.
It is clear the Alena has learned a lot about sustainability, the candles are organic soy based with well-chosen wide natural wood or cottons wick and the beautiful glass and wood containers are wonderful for repurposed uses. A range of Essential Oils are features within the Vitality line and all the candles are hand poured. Alena has always been creatively inquisitive, wonderfully organized, enthusiastically engaged. We are so glad that she has taken her learning to the next level and been able to do so, with resilience and determination, during challenging of times.
Alena represents our community well. Visit her product lines for your home and holiday needs.
https://alenas.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/alenascandlecompany/ https://www.facebook.com/AlenasCanadianCandleCompany
photographs: alenas.ca
FOR THE LOVE of BIRDS - ORIGAMI and ADVOCACY
MMHS students continue to lead and build a list of creative achievements.
Sophie J. and Edwina C. continued our connection to Birds Canada and tradition of creative stewardship by designing,
promoting and leading an origami workshop, display design & associated campaign related to bird advocacy and window safety.
The resulting flock of hundreds of colourful flying hearts can be viewed from inside and outside the school, on the cafeteria windows, as a message to students and community members. Their poster designs, furthered the cause and includes additional QR linked content/education.
You can join us in any of our creative workshops and, like Sophie and Edwina, we can support you in developing your own offering (related to personal interest, community needs, volunteer initiatives, CAS projects, SHSM extensions, etc.)
Our recent workshops have included watercolour exploration. Our upcoming offerings continue an annual tradition of seasonal card design related to your personal interests, varied world cultural traditions + honouring and learning from the land. Your inclusive card may be chosen to be an official greeting card sent to all staff and Visual Arts students (a great addition to a resume and portfolio).
graphic design, copywriting and photography: Sophie J. & Edwina C.
GALLERY 44, Centre for Contemporary Photography - Silver Linings
MMHS students continue to create, show and represent.
Their creative work supports personal voice, expression of experience, empowering actions and community connection.
In making art, students builds skills sets, awareness and personal resumes, connected to a range of pathways.
View there work online, in this virtual experience from end of February through end of March.
Liane's photo integration was selected for the honour of lead show image, following lead images from Jessica, last year
and Aditya, before that. Their work represents the group photo shows in gallery digital and print promotions and remains in the
Gallery show archives, amidst the diverse work of professional photographers.
Visit the Gallery for current shows and the archives for past shows, including prior student Cameralinks shows.
Discover the impact of photography across shows and topics.
Images: Gallery 44, centre for Contemporary Photography, https://www.gallery44.org/exhibition-archive, April, 2022
Madeline Gr. 12 Angie Gr. 11 Alyssa Gr. 9
Visit the show links to engage with more art and creative community.
Viewing and experiencing art and meaning-making are also important tools for Wellness.
Students can join our Visual Arst News digital classroom to stay informed of creative opportunites
and for information on how to join or ongoing online community gallery shares and prompts.
ART GALLERY of ONTARIO - RESILIENCE SHOW
MMHS students are showing work with the RESILIENCE initiative through the Art Gallery of Ontario
images and text: Art Gallery of Ontario
with Kevin, Franklin, Yashini, Hergiely and Sathana in Grades 9-12, MMHS
LAND, PEOPLES, SPECIES & LANGUAGE -
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, ARTIFACT & STEWARDSHIP
MMHS Visual Arts is currently working on two collaborative projects.
FIBRE ARTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LANDSCAPE
We are collectively creating an active, physical Land and Peoples Acknowledgement,
grounded by the Elements of Nature, depicted though the Elements of Art.
The work is inspired by traditions of stitching, across cultures, with associations of home,
offering, care and healing. Naming of peoples as an inseparable part of the land is also a feature of the work.
The work is without template or boundary and is created from repurposed fabrics.
Students staff and friends are, individually and mindfully engaging in a personal process
during physical distancing, each creating a personal acknowledgement piece that will be united
with the other pieces, into a collective landscape, when we rejoin as a community, in partnership.
https://docs.virtual acknowledgment (to self pace viewing, click the forward arrow/tap screen or mouse)
FIELD GUIDE
The MMHS Field Guide is another act of Acknowledgment, Stewardship, Language and Oral Tradition preservation, in development
It features original illustration from MMHS Visual Arts students and will include knowledge and teachings with representatives of
The Chippewas of Georgina Island, First Nation.
The Guide, formatted for cell phone access, features local species, with naming in regional Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe Language).
The work will serve as a Milliken Mills Community learning resource and ELL support, accessible by cell phone and other devices.
Information related to stewardship projects and partnerships will also be included.
The framework is intended to be adaptable for use in other communities. The guide will be offered to our partners at Sutton District High School
and Georgina Island as an added template for engagement with nature, traditions and initiatives within their own surroundings,
with the hopes of inspiring expansion of the project to other regions.
When we interact with local species and languages we become more aware and are drawn into relationship and understanding of our interconnection.
ABSENCE, an In-Process Discovery
Gr. Nine student, Tvesa, volunteered to prepare repurposed materials, for use in the Acknowledgement Fiber Arts Landscape. It ended up being a mindful exercise for her, in a challenging time, and becoming the gateway to an accidental artwork.
At the end of semester one, Tvesa brought in a bag of carefully cut and arranged materials and the 'shell' of a former baby blanket, with the crocheted centers removed. It was instantly recognizable as a symbol of the times, an unpopulated, unraveling grid, like a visual representation of "absence". The artifact is a powerful presence as a void, and statement of what is no longer present. We will display is as a symbol, related to unprocessed loss and grief of these times, for further reflection and opportunities to opportunity to respond, process and create. It may serve to further inspire a related dance or dramatic interpretation.
HOME IS A FEELING
Visit gallery44.org to see the works of MMHS students and other photographers in the show Home is a Feeling at Gallery 44, Centre for Contemporary Photography. The artwork of MMHS Visual Arts student, Jessica Z. has been chosen to be the lead image on the site, during this phase of the gallery's closure. The show will be available online from February 17 until April 2 and Jessica's work will remain in the exhibition archive to represent the show and timeframe. (https://www.gallery44.org/exhibitions/cameralinks-2021)
Jessica's work considers the interaction between sky/light and home spaces, drawing attention to that pivotal and ongoing relationship, within a time of distancing and sequestering.
Images: gallery 44, Centre for Contemporary Photgraphy
Jessica Zhuo, Milliken Mills High School, Awaiting, Digital Collage, 2020
GR. NINES GO VIRTUAL
Our amazing Grade Nines have shown resilience. perseverance and adaptability in engaging in learning during full closure, asynchronous, synchronous online and tumbling hybrid rotations. Through it all, they have tried new approaches to creativity and mindfulness and explored formatting of work for the online environment and virtual presentation. Each one of our Grade Nine students has created a digital Art portfolio. These awarnesses and skills will continue to serve them well throughout high school and within their individual pathways. Below are invitation links, offered by Gr. Nine students for informal sharing of some of the art from their creative portfolios. (self-pace by click)
SUEY - Art is a Noun (click to advance)
Our Grade Nines continue to show Leadership and community from afar. Many participate in our thematic community gallery shares and contribute to our initiatives.
Angela Pu has been a leader within the development of our Field Guide, illustrating local severallocal species with attention to detail and personal vision.
See the upcoming Field Guide for work from other MMHS students.
MMHS IBVA ENVISION 2020 - ART SHOW
MMHS Visual Arts is pleased to present ENVISION 2020, our online graduating art show featuring the collected EXHIBITION works of our first ever IB Visual Arts graduates, founders and ambassadors. While students chose the name for the show before the new year, the name takes on an increasing significance as we further examine the way we live our lives and, consider our perceptions and ENVISION approaches to equity, balance and renewal. Visual Arts and design can help to inspire the way forward. Our IB artists have been considering connections and relationships throughout the programme.
Aryana's work relates to the relationship between nature, structure and self,
through the lens of architecture. To view Aryana's virtual show, visit the link:
Emily examines personal relationships to food in interconnection with societal roles,
patterns and entanglements. To view Emily's virtual Exhibit, visit the link:
Visual Arts is considered to be one of the most challenging IB Credits. In addition to the final personal Exhibition, students complete two other major projects, with over thirty pages of personal content. Within YRDSB, the 11/12 IB Visual Art Programme carries some additional challenge, with the original two year programme condensed into a seven month split class timeline. Completion of the final Gr. 12 credit and all components occurs by April, during the students Gr. 11 year and, this year, the end of the course came during school closure and the height of physical distancing measures. While we already had planned a version of our show to run online, in keeping with contemporary trends, we have further explored motion sequences to re-enforce the core concepts of each student's intent.
GALLERY 44 ENVISION ONLINE - ART SHOW
Emily and Aryana are joined by Elaine at Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography for an online art show running from July through October. Interestingly, the show has also been entitled, ENVISION. The gallery is showing pieces from Aryana and Emily's personal shows, and one of Elaine's video series, completed while considering the world, while physically distancing. Click on the link to view the show.
CONGRATULATIONS MMHS CREATIVES!
It's that time of year. Our art, design and photography students have shown true creative resilience and design engagement in shifting, pivoting and following through to complete some very inventive and highly sustainable remote responses.
That shift included a change in plans for our nature advocacy work with partners Birds Canada and Shadowland theatre. After completing large-scale theatre pieces in class, students demonstrated their dedication by interrupting their online projects to offer imagery for a video concept, lead by the Shadowland Team.
Enjoy the results and on our Art & Ecology Page and at:
While all of our graduating students will continue to use their creative skills-set within their personal pathways, several of our students are beginning focused creative post-secondary studies. Teressa is off to Visual arts studies in the BFA programme at U of T, Dylan will be continuing his focus on Illustration at OCAD U as is Vivian, Elaine H is pursuing Media Design, Elaine Z will be exploring corporate communications at Brock along with others who have not yet relayed which offers they have chosen.
In addition to our Visual Arts awards (which will be part of graduation), Dylan is one of the sixteen 2020 recipients of YRDSB celebrating Student Success Award (from across all YRDSB elementary and secondary schools) for his ongoing commitment to creative advocacy and artistic excellence.
Emily Z has earned out MMHS IB Visual Arts Award, with infamously elusive 99th percentile IBVA Level 7 rating. Emily Z has also received another distinction, one of eight Markham Youth Entrepreneurship Grants for her own photography/styling/food design/graphic design initiative, focused on supporting the city's food related businesses, during this challenging time.
Congratulations to our other Gr. 12 Visual Arts awards recipients. Teressa Q offered an amazing a array of 2D and 3D design work and responded to design challenges related to our current times to secure the Gr. 12 Design Award.
Winson K continued to use his keen photographic eye to capture a range of compelling images and deliver remotely to receive graduating recognition in Photography. All of our Visual Arts students and staff have responded to the times and the associated challenges to deliver meaningful personal works with awareness, perseverance and resilience.
images and content: Markham Review, Dylan Tan, K. Middleton
UPDATE: Dylan is now working towards a Degree with OCAD U, after acceptance to the elite illustation programme team.
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Emily Z. has been selected as a paritcipant in the City of Markham summer company programme.
Her venture extends the photowork and web design initiated through coursework at MMHS
Emily has also received commendation within an annual Food Photography Contest:
all images/design: Emily Z
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Aryana N. has used her art and design skills to develop a range of characters and illustrations for a new book, exploring topics of mindfulness, literacy and social intelligences.
ART as MINDFULNESS, Positivity, Creative Response & Personal Expression
Visual Arts, through our own virtual space, and digital strategies has been ready for the April 2020 shift to online learning, continuing to design opportunities for our students to build real-world skills... in a unfolding scenario that became very 'real', very quickly.
Arts is good for everyone. Creative exploration helps.
Our creative team has been designing and adapting ways means of engagement and support.
All MMHS students, staff and friends may visit OUR ARTS MIND PAGE for links to great creative initiatives offered by artists and designers, continuing to contribute to community and well being.
We have established a series of shared galleries to as positive viewing and sharing.
See our ARTS MIND PAGE for details.
Ms Sakhuja and her dedicated team have carried through with Yearbook 2020, and are working on plans to reveal and share theme and content.
Birds Canada and Shadowland Theatre, continue their partnership in a new form.
See our EARTH DAY PAGE for related awareness and tune in for the launch of the video collaboration completed virtually with work by students and the theatre team, during physcial distancing.
Our ARTS MIND MAGAZINE will go virtual for continued engagement throughout the summer.
Anticipate a gradual release of interactive printable pages ad a link to to the 2020 'ZINE.
Each magazine will continue to be unique, because you create it ... and will be able to print pages for use or use them within your image editor.
Image: Angel L. Design: Angel L .and Midd.
GALLERY 44 - LANGUAGES - FEBRUARY 13-22
RECEPTION on FAMILY DAY, FEBRUARY 17, 12:00-3:00
Join us Gallery 44, Centre for Contemporary Photographic, in the 401 Richmond Arts Building, for LANGUAGES, featuring photographic imagery from our Gr. 11 Design, Gr. 12 Visual Arts and IBVA students.
It is quite a privilege to show in a gallery space, right after a show, featuring the works of famed street photographer, Helen Levitt and alongside the first professional show curated by our own MMHS 2019
grad, Heidi Wong.
Heidi is now in internship at Gallery 44, developing her role as an emerging curator alongside studies at OCAD U. She was introduced to the gallery and other creative opportunities, while developing her admissions portfolio through coursework and creative ventures with MMHSVA. Her current three artist show runs through March 14th and is entitled, WHEN ONE IS FAR AND GONE.
See our MMHS work in the main studio space and Heidi's show one level below, in the production gallery. We thank the Gallery 44 team for their ongoing commitment to photography, photo education and fostering student expression and opportunity. LANGUAGES opens February 13th, with a reception on February 17th, Family Day. We suggest that your take in all the galleries in the 401 Richmond and 80 Spadina, and visit the art bubble gum machine while at the show ... and spark your own creative fire.
MMHS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT as LANDSCAPE - ARTONOMY @ QUEST
YRDSB QUEST -INDIGENOUS EDUCATION & EQUITY NOVEMBER 20, 21, 22
see MMHS students in creative action:
MMHSVA embraces the ongoing journey towards Equity and Reconciliation. This year, we proposed to share our Acknowledgement Landscape, in creative process and were invited to be featured in main space of QUEST, YRDSB's signature educational conference. MMHS has participated in ARTONOMY at QUEST in previous years, through collaborative projects, with a technological focus. This year, we slowed it down, to create a space and pace for Acknowledgement, that was mindful, personal, collaborative and hand-rendered. Our featured landscape features the act of stitching in its many global incarnations and traditions as a metaphorical action of mindfulness, connection naming and healing. The work uses the elements of art to communicate elements of this land and represents the many personal landscapes within the collective landscape. Our landscape is meant to name and honour the Indigenous Peoples, including the Wendat, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee, as an inseparable and integral part of the land on which our school is built. In proposing the acknowledgment project, we found ourselves discussing the thread of awareness, acknowledgment and action running through our coursework, extra-curricular projects, and partnerships. Much of our departmental work is about shared understanding. alignment and collaboration; so, we brought along our aligned projects and partnerships, including: Arts Mind Magazine, Yearbook, IBVA, Green Inc., TEAM, and associated student leaders. We offered an interactive connection to our work and planning in action, under a collective title, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT through LANDSCAPE. Our total MMHS team involved 40 students in rotation, in varied roles, representing many groups including: ELL, Personal Alternative Education, Cooperative Education, Special Education, IB, Equity, Healthy Schools, and Student Council. At MMHS, Visual Art is a foundation, rather than an adjunct.
logo: Crystal N. Illustration: Angel L.
The first day, presented many in-depth discussions with an array of educational professionals: teachers, consultants, principals, superintendents, associate director, director, and educational business innovators. It was even an opportunity to show our own busy MMHS staff, attending the conference, what we do, how we do it and the importance of The Arts in our school and educational system. Our educational partners from the Netherlands, on their annual tour, were particularly interested in student lead approaches to learning. Many educators left with images of our projects, links to our planning and webpages, copies of ARTS MIND MAGAZINE, Angel's illustrated Acknowledgement as personal reminder card, and the ideas extended through our team.
On our second day, students greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn directly from students and teachers , Ms Kontozis and Ms Johnston, from Sutton District High School, through their RED DRESS PROJECT, a significant work of personal and collective awareness, acknowledging and honouring The MISSING and MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN, women residential school survivors, relatives, elders and the value of Indigenous women. We look forward to further collaborations with our friends at SDHS, across the expanse of YRDSB.
Our friends from Stephen Lewis S.S. dropped by on the third day and lingered to discover through spontaneous creativity, fibre art and our mindful, interactive illustration. We connected with fellow educators and creative professionals, bringing some into our circle for MMHS EARTH DAY and other explorations. Video of our students in action was shared within the conference and posted to the conference site, further extending the creative effort and expression.
Through it all, students were dedicated, focused and engaged and actively learning more about project proposals, event planning, presentation and collaboration, while making significant progress, across current projects and advocacy themes. 2020, is, symbolically a year of clear vision, and we are carrying the vision of Acknowledgment through the year and our projects. Join us in April 29th on Earth Day and Arts Mind in May, to further engage with our Acknowledgment pieces.
Be on the lookout for:
ARTS MIND MAGAZINE 2020 (Angel, Anya & Yashini leads)
ARTS MIND WEEK for Mental Health Awareness (MMHS ARTS COLLECTIVE) - show, performances, activities
ART ALIVE!! LIVE PAINTING IN ACTION (Frederica & Kabilash) - 1 hour, 1 canvas, creativity always wins
YEARBOOK 2020 (lead by the whole, amazing Yearbook Team & Ms Sukhaj)
ARBORETUM GUIDE (Dylan, with GREEN INC. & FNMI)
BUILDING the FLOCK - a collective paper sculpture installation related to Bird Safety & Advocacy
EARTH DAY 2020 - April 29 (a collaboration between BIRDS CANADA, SHADOWLANDS THEATRE,
GREEN INC., TEAM, MMHS ARTS, the FNMI TEAM, ADMIN., SLAM, EQUITY & others)
MMHSVA IBEX2020 - Opening MARCH 26th - our first IB show related to personal connecting concepts
and social themes of our times - level one Cafetorium and showcase
..plus the fibre arts ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LANDSCAPE (Alena & Iqra with Quest +)
bringing students into collaboration and new discovery ... and MMHS to QUEST
This year, we continue to work with concepts of acknowledgement, ecology, and sustainability, recognizing that personal and collective wellness
is connected to planetary, environment and First Nations wellness
and the innate need for creative expression.
We align this mandate across our publications, activities. partnerships and courses.
ART ALIVE!!
Images: M. Coleman
On May 10th, ART ALIVE!!, the culminating event of Arts Mind, landed in the atrium like a creative whirlwind, with over 25
painters in a focused Art Discovery challenge against a 55 minute clock. The theme was Inner Landscapes,
in keeping with Land Acknowledgment, Mental Health Awareness and aligned with MMHS Drama's Landscape inspired production
(in partnerships with Tarragon Theatre, the University of Toronto and the works of landscape artist and educator Doris McCarthy).
It was a Visual Arts Ventures opportunity for Frederica and Kabilash who confidently ran the show weaving dynamically and
spontaneously through the images, music, participants and audience. Our late arrival special guest artist almost 'stole' the
show, but each unique creative expression shone through.
As in traditional art challenges, all of MMHS was invited to view the process and final artworks and consider a personal favourite, an, admittedly, difficult task.
Votes were split across all of the images, showing an appreciation for the range of design and technique and varied responses to theme.
Mandy amassed the most responses for her vision of tranquility and everyone, participants and audience, alike, were winners in creativity.
We send a big thank you to Mr. Hilland and his sound team for getting us up and running and all the students and staff who
took on the creative challenge, building sharing, mindfulness and community at MMHS. Arts Mind is MMHS ARTS week long
offering of creative explorations, shared performance and community in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week.
JOIN US
MAY 1st is ARTS KNIGHT. Join us from 6:00- 8:00 pm in the atrium for, featured offerings from
Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts. Support The Arts in Action at MMHS & Mr. Hillands final MMHS performance.
All are welcome.
Image: Dylan T- VENTURES - with MIDD
May 6-10, it's Arts Mind, a series of daily lunchtime activities, performances and workshops, in conjunction with Canadian Mental Health Awareness Week. Painting music, flash mobs, bubble art and ensembles are all typical parts of the roster, plus more. This year, we will also have a live theatrical performance in the center of the atrium. It all wraps up with Art Alive!!, the Paint 'Battle' and over 25 participants registered to face the creative challenge. Check the schedule in the showcase for details.
Engaging with art supports well being. Our doctors can now offer prescriptions for art shows and performances as a means to foster well being and connection. Whether an audience member or participant, art is good for you... for health, for skills, building meaning and community. Join us in creativity and sharing.
SPRING DISCOVERY LANDSCAPES + ARTS MIND, the 'ZINE
INNER LANDSCAPES - This Year, Arts Mind has a thematic focus. MMHS Drama has initiated the direction through a collaboration with Tarragon Theatre and U of T, Scarborough and we are inspired to join them on the journey. Within this theme, we consider our personal interior landscapes, collective landscapes and the impact of historical and contemporary actions on individuals, groups, communities and The Land.
ARTS MIND - The 'ZINE, 2019 - Inner Landscapes/Landscape of the Mind
The Collaboration extends into the relationship of image, word and interaction with the Inaugural edition of ARTS MIND, The 'ZINE, added to the Arts Mind roster. Creative, mindful activities designed by MMHS students will be interspersed with original poems and imagery. Every book will be different and personal, because the 'reader' is also a creator. See Ms Coleman and Joyce Z. for details.
Tracy with Kitty AWD3M1-MIDD Yino with Krystal AWD3M1- MIDD, Angel AVI101, Dylan- VENTURES
Don't forget... Arts Battle/the Paint Challenge will return... full force, in landscape theme, in the atrium .. May 10th, with Frederica and Kabilash as Masters of Ceremony, a solid soundtrack and a ticking clock.
Our participation list is open until April 25th. See an art teacher to be included. Students & staff are welcome.
Arts Mind for Whole Health Awareness, In Conjunction with Canadian Mental Health Week - May 6-10.
YORK REGION SKILLS CHALLENGE & The PERSONAL INITIATIVE
At the end of February, Students from across York Region will engage Skills Challenge, hosted by Seneca College. Heidi was nominated by her the photography crew to represent Milliken Mills HS and YRDSB in Photo Category. Heidi and our other photographers have grown accustomed to discovering and developing and refining photographic works, independently. Students in the event, will respond to a predetermined, but, as of yet, undisclosed photo challenge and respond within time and location parameters. It will be interesting to see what unfolds.... no pressure... just exploration.
Heidi's triptych requirement for the challenge is shown below. She will be combining this and other works together to curate and model a personal show entitled, EMERGENCE, within our Arts Mind/Arts Knight spring show, beginning May 1st (particularly helpful to students considering the IB Visual Arts Programme).
VENTURES- YR Skills Challenge Additional Photoworks
AWQ3M1, AWD3M1-MIDD & INDEPENDENT
UPDATE: Heidi selected OCAD U from amongst her admission offers and is pursuing Curatorial Studies. She was also accpted to the York Region Youth Arts Council and has been working on local initiatives.
Directly after graduating from, MMHS, she was chosen as the annual Intern with Gallery 44, Centre for Contemporary Photography afte and has curated her first group show, featuring photgraphers with diverse world connections and foci.
Heidi has puiblished a book for works from her time at MMHS, icluding both digital and film/darkoom works, reminiscent of the ealry 'masters of photography'. She has been invited to present this work with YRDSB elementary schools.
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GALLERY 44 - Centre for Contemporary Photography
CAMERALINKS: LOOKING FORWARD
On February 13th, Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography held the opening for their annual CameraLinks thematic exhibit, Looking Forward. Photographs by MMHS students are presented within a feature wall arrangement and in a customized digital display.
The gallery welcomes visitors to view these and other diverse works included in Looking Forward. The Show runs through to February 23rd, (excluding Sunday), at 401 Richmond Street West (at Spadina), in the heart of the gallery district.
Through our Visual Arts Ventures Network, we actively seek to connect our students to a range of meaningful opportunities and experiences. MMHS has a rich history of showing art within GTA galleries and our community.
Gallery 44 is one of a just a few photo focused galleries in the GTA. It has a special mandate to promote photography education in traditional and contemporary approaches. As part of our approach to Equity, all of our students are offered an opportunity to refine a related project for showing and engage with the documentation and preparation of works for display as part of design 'delivery', and an aspect of Visual Arts curriculum. This year, digital prints from AWD3M1 Visual Design, AVI4M1 Visual Arts and independent students (Middleton), plus a framed projection sequence from AWQ3M1 (Kong) will be featured.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Several of our MMHS Visual Arts Photography and Design students were invited to show collaborative Photographs at the Markham African Caribbean Canadian Association &City of Markham Black History Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday January 3rd at Markham Flato Theatre and the Civic Centre's Great Hall. Since the event was STEAM based (with a focus on science, technology, engineering, art and math), the organizers were particularly interested in the technical motion studies from our Gr. 11 Photography course, influenced by groundbreaking electrical engineering studies at MIT (with related application to scientific, sports, advertising, news. and fine art photography).
Students were asked to present large scale prints and a slide show, with Daniel taking the lead to speak on the intersection of Art & Science in their Photographic work. Physics, Chemistry, Math, Technologies, Engineering of photographic devices and scenarios are all a part of full-spectrum study of Photography at MMHS. (We don't just point and shoot). The group presenting work on the theatre screen included Daniel, Usman, Sheraz and Aditya, with additional print design and portrait works by Safia with Taylor (on display until the end of the week). Students had an opportunity to meet and interact with community leaders and the mayor while communicating the value of personal collaborations and mindful creative engagement through Photography. That's what Visual Arts Ventures Networking is all about.
(UPDATE: Daniel and Usman have now been accepted to all three of the post-secondary Photography Programmes to which they applied. They showed independence and determination in ongoing exploration, consultations and refinements to build truly personal admissions portfolios. Congratulations!)
Markham Mayor, Frank Scarpitti, with Photographs by Safia with Taylor, AWD3M1 (Middleton) Motion Studies by Usman and Aditya with Daniel AWQ3M1 (Midd)and Usman with Daniel (Indpendent with consultation) Image: City of Markham
MACCA/City of Markham Recognition Awards Recipients Image: City of Markham Image: Usman with Daniel
Event Promotion Image: MACCA & Eventbrite MMHS at Markham Flato Theatre Image: City of Markham
BLACK ART & CULTURE - IN SCHOOL - During February, visit our display board, featuring an array of works by Black artist/innovators and help create the Roots & Rhythms Glass Mural as we take Visual Arts Discovery, to the Library and Maker Space. Discover rich traditional patterns from Black cultures around the globe and add your own colours and shapes to the mural concept, designed by award winning MMHS student, Shamar. Extend the inquiry and use the library resources for further inquiry into traditional and contemporary art, artists and culture. All staff and students are welcome in this collaboration between Alternative Education TEAM, Maker Space, Library Learning Commons and Visual Arts.
YEARBOOK - IT's HAPPENING..
THANKS TO AN AMAZING TEAM AND THE LEADERSHIP OF MS JOBANPUTRA
Yearbook is for everyone, the book and the course. You still have a chance to order a copy. And, if you have a prior senior Visual Arts or Technology credit, you still can enrol in next year's AWE4M1 course, learn about professional graphic design and publishing and have a chance to build next year's experience. Yearbook is networking and community, 30 YEARS, strong. (Image: Yearbook Team, with S. Jobanputra) 
Annual Shows - A Tradition Continues
Every year, we venture out, extending student creative expression into the community. In September, it was an installation at Markham Fair, featuring multiple students (see the blog post, below)... in November, the Provincial OSSTF Finals, in January, the Civic Centre and Markham Flato Theatre and, in February, we engage Gallery 44 and York Region Skills Challenge. Some of our student work is on permanent community display, with two trios of MMHS Visual Arts students completing large commissioned paintings at the Milliken Mills Community Center and Library, each related to Equity and Wellness. Spring marks the Arrival of Arts Knight and Arts Mind as Our students experience their art related to community, connection and opportunity.
UPCOMING... G44 CAMERALINKS: Looking Forward - in February
Gallery 44 is located in the 401 Richmond Street, Building at the south east corner of Richmond and Spadina. The photographs will be on display from February 13-24, with an opening reception of February 13th as part of CameraLinks, LOOKING FORWARD.
MMHS student photography on display at G44, 2011 MMHS at McKay House Image: Gallery 44 Article: The India Times
New Year, NEW VENTURE
(January 2019)
It's freshly 2019, with Lunar New Year and semester 2 approaching. All that, tends to make us look back on what we have done and DEFINE, directions moving forward. It has been a semester filled with collaborations. People drop by daily for support with individual and classroom projects, research questions, admissions portfolio & essays, contest refinements, visual resumes.... it's ongoing and only growing with the increased visibility and use of art & design in the modern marketplace.
Connection is a vital part of the Visual Arts Department. So, we are enacting the title, Visual Arts Ventures Network, as an umbrella, for the array of initiatives that we support outside of the classroom - in which students, school and community partner together through common creative purpose. Networking, is more than adding names to a social media list. It is timely communication and collaboration in action, defining clear goals and developing action steps to creatively manifest them. See our OPPORTUNITIES PAGE to find out more and see the results of Visual Arts venture networking throughout our pages.
Arts Club, too, is trying on a new name, better associated with the unique goal of our weekly mindful creative gathering, to differentiate it from our service and product based efforts. Arts Club has been around for 30 years and for the last 15, the focus has been on mindful, sustainable creative explorations, offered during lunch, open to all students and staff. To reflect this, Arts Club is becoming VISUAL ARTS DISCOVERY. Discovery is a design industry term, often used to describe the open-ended, exploratory stage of the creative process. VISUAL ARTS DISCOVERY, it's about possibility, pressure-free personal exploration and creative play; it's discovering about self and other, through creativity... no pressure, just exploration. DISCOVERY uses readily available sustainable materials, suitable to the time frame and all levels of experience. DISCOVERY is open to all students and staff and our offerings will be announced and posted to insure equal access.
Green Guardian via Gr.9 Visual Arts... is on the way
Madeline - Character & Cover Prototype AVI101 (Middleton) exploratory mock-up ... concept in development
(with study of figure drawing studies, Photoshop)
When students explore creativity and personal meaning, utilizing their skills and gifts.... projects align with purpose. Such is the case with Madeline, who has been developing a character and cover design as part of a Gr. 9 culminating assignment which seems, naturally aligned to current issues and the Mandate of Green Inc./Eco Schools ... and, in just a few moments, and some effective communication... an alliance was formed (and, the concept of VISUAL ARTS VENTURES, opportunity matching focus, (see OPPORTUNITIES PAGE), again, made sense ).
Part of our Role in Visual Arts is to recognize and foster creative alignments, linking individual, community and real-world experience - expanding resumes, portfolios, messages and connections. Fostering collaborative relationships and an awareness, helps us all. With creative work like Madeline's, the concept of VISUAL ARTS VENTURES (see our OPPORTUNITIES & DIRECTIONS PAGE) began to make even more sense.
Madeline has been taking control of the project and her vision, consulting and discussing the possibility of a storyline involving polarized possible futures. Immediately, she began to consider adapting the story scenario and design detail to best suit the opportunity & Eco mandate, through a positive tone. She has embraced the opportunity, considering an ongoing multi-year initiative, across her time at MMHS, with a role to match her interests and inclinations. Wow.
Be on the lookout for more of Green Guardian - as Madeline applies her skills, gifts and experience ...
Early connections and opportunities help to show students what is possible and how we can work together
in action for our collective future and potential personal futures and possibilities.
More GREEN INC/ECO SCHOOL MATCHING through Visual Arts Ventures
Naomi - Acrylic on Board Painting AVI4M1 (Middleton) (December 2018)
Everybody has been admiring Naomi's recently completed dragonfly, an acrylic painting on wood panel.
People and groups have asked to have it, others have just come to visit dragonfly. This happens sometimes. Our students apply themselves within the project process, resulting in refined, viable and meaningful creative products. At MMHS, we match work to purpose, we don't give it away. In the digital age, students can retain their original copy and still offer their work for meaningful purpose... and what better purpose than habitat and biodiversity preservation. Naomi immediately offered her image and support to GREEN INC and other artists and their subject creatures signed on as well.
The project itself is designed for awareness and connection, through Naturalistic study. The art class became more connected to their bugs, insects and the rest, and we started to discuss when we last saw a 'Praying Mantis' and other species subjects that the students had chosen to depict. It caused us to consider the reduction in local species numbers and diversity, across the globe. The resulting art, considers the detail and beauty of each species and will be used to bring this awareness to others. The 'fade' technique contributes the visual emphasis and furthers the message that our biodiversity is disappearing.
Green Inc Design Duo, Dylan and Vivian, are integrating the images into promotion/educational posters.
Alternative Education's TEAM generated the slogans, related to bio diversity. Watch for the unveiling, within Green Inc initiatives.
YRAC - Youth Committee - A Visual Arts Venture Network Match
(December 2018)Congratulations Heidi. Heidi's interests in Arts organizations, art history and curatorial concepts lead to a Visual Arts Ventures match with York Region Arts Council. She used the creative process to DISCOVER the mandate and role of the organization and learn about the application process for YRAC Youth Committee and DEFINED a council suitable role related requirements and deadlines. She DEVELOPED solid integrated visual resume, personal logo, cover letter and updated her on-line portfolio, consulted around refinements and DELIVERED her pitch in a council interview. Heidi is now a member of the YORK REGION YOUTH ARTS COUNCIL executive, a great learning experience, networking opportunity and addition to resume. She can continue in this role during her post-secondary education and move on to other roles within this and other related organization.
In her role, can represent the interests of Milliken Mills and Markham alongside personal interests, a step forward into inter-relating benefit. In MMHS Visual Arts we strive to prepare students for opportunity with projects that build personal visual identity and experience, and skills, while offering ongoing support outside of class time.
Opportunity awaits. Starting early builds awareness, confidence and possibility.
WINTER GREETINGS and COLLABORATIONS
Gr. 11 students created a winter design and fundraising experience, with the Guidance of Ms. Ng. The extracurricular venture was a great learning opportunity around the preferences of a target audience and market, materials costs, fundraising protocols, advance orders and direct deliver systems. Proceeds (after costs) will go to BEST BUDDIES, an MMHS fundraising focus.
Cards were designed By Teressa, Dylan and others, with a group approach to sales and delivery. Students often design occasion cards logos, and other marketable items as part of the independent inquiry component within our courses. Seeing their designs in action, re-enforces the real world applications of art and design. This venture may become an annual tradition, with cards celebrating our array of winter festivals, including Diwali, Lunar New year, Hanukka, Kwanza and more.
Design class, AWD3M1 (Middleton) was also in mode, adapting a course project on mental health awareness into a winter holiday greeting, suitable to varied cultural traditions, while acknowledging that both the holiday season and winter can be a particular challenge, with a call to mindful within the season. The image acts as both an e-greeting and print postcard, that can be kept as a reminder throughout the year. Our featured image was created by Emily and model (using paper theatrical design, lighting and digital photography with Photoshop).
Remember the YRDSB annual calendar features art depicting the meaningful nature of all cultural celebrations and any student can enter to have work included. The deadline to enter your work if February 22, 2019. See an art teacher for details.
9 OSSTF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Dylan T. Represents York Region - Senior Visual Arts Division (November 2018)
As always, we encourage our students to pursue creative opportunities and provide in- house postings, details and ongoing support. This Year, Dylan's artwork, Hands of Time, has been selected from all York Region Senior Visual Arts entries, to represent OSSTF District 16, at the Provincial final.
Dylan extended the components of his drawing project in AVI3M1(Ng), into a personal statement and challenge, related to the contest theme, spending many independent hours fine honing his pencil and pencil crayon techniques towards magical naturalism. This year's theme, Ahead by a Century, is a challenging one, designed to foster inquiry around whether collective and human actions, in recent decades, can be considered more as advancement or detriment to our world. Dylan's artwork is full of rich nature symbolism, a fitting match to the theme, like paintings by the Baroque Vanitas masters, visited in AVI3M1 curriculum.
Last year Dylan entered an excellent independent digital illustration in the Junior category, related to the
popular, What's your Super Power theme. He regularly and willingly applies his creative skills to service, fostering further versatility, awareness, rendering/design skills, while building a personal portfolio through real-world work with Green Inc., Arts Knight, Arts Mind, and other MMHS initiatives. Works from Gr. 10 are appreciated around the school, for use in varied mindful, ecological and equity initiatives. Behind
the contest, is an amazing example of how creative engagement enriches community, connections, meaningful causes, and aligns personal focus and opportunity. When students engage in our three focus areas of Visual Arts, Visual Design and Photography (with both traditional and contemporary media and techniques), they become a Visual 'Triple Threat'+. Dylan has already been matching his skills and vision with his awareness of MMHS and community initiatives, touching base, within the Department for consultation and refinement of work. Some of Dylan's cross-disciplinary work related to MMHS NETWORK initiatives is featured below (check-back for his growing portfolio, and versatility... coming soon to the portfolio showcase):
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AWD201-MIDD VENTURES- MIDD
AWD301-MIDD
WHITE RIBBONS & ROSES - DECEMBER 6th
This Year, MMHSVA will support the traditional MMHS table space, honouring and including the 14 women engineering students of Ecole Polytechnique with an atrium display featuring powerful works created by Heidi with Naomi, Safia with Taylor, Tracy with Kitty and Grace with Lee. These images arrive at a pivotal time, alongside the expansion of the Me Too phenomena and other human rights initiatives. (They also act as a preview to our related work with Looking Forward in February and Arts Mind in May.) Elizabeth Z serves as curator/prop & lighting designer for the exhibit, with poetry and content support from Joyce Z and the AVI4M1 group and research by Mona. Thank you to each additional student who created sculpted paper flowers to honour the women of Ecole Polytechnique and all those taken by gender based violence.
Curation: Elizabeth with Joyce Research: Mona (Co-op ollaboration- Mitchell & Middleton)
Part of our mandate is producing meaningful art, developing skills of art presentation and collaboration, engaging social cause and community. Visit the showcase to view the works.
for additional information:
https://www.whiteribbon.ca/
http://blog.legalaid.on.ca/2013/12/05/december-6-national-day-of-remembrance-and-action-on-violence-against-women/
REMEMBRANCE DAY BANNER
This year, a team lead by Teressa under the Guidance of Ms NG and Ms Kong, created a banner to support
the annual MMHS Remembrance Day ceremony. The banner, with classic imagery can now become part of
the MMHS tradition. With advanced planning, the team worked extra-curricularly, over several weeks to
meet their delivery date, with Teress demonstrating great dedication in completing the project. (P
hoto: S Ng)
For more information on Rememberance Day Observances and Visual Symbols visit:
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/a-day-of-remembrance/why
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2007/11/11/remembrance-day-facts-and-symbols/
GALLERY 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography
Another of our students has been chosen to represent Gallery 44 online and in print. It is a great continuation of our longstanding involvement in all manner of Photography in MMHS Visual Arts
and demonstrates the continued role and value of film, darkroom and hand rendered work in, and beyond, the art community.
Aditya's image was one of several of his portraits that were on display at Gallery 44. His work was chosen from all school submissions and is the only student work featured on the gallery site. The image will be used to promote this year's CAMERALINKS show and remain on the Gallery site for an extended period, (an excellent addition to any resume).
This semester, Design, Photography and Visual Arts students will all be creating, preparing and showcasing images for a professional gallery environment. Part of out mandate is to connect students with opportunities, experiences, community and creative networks, building resumes, awareness and confidence.
Image: Aditya, with Sheraz from the Pictorialist Portrait Portfolio series AWQ3M1 (Middleton)
OCTOBER IS:
ISLAMIC HERITAGE MONTH & WOMEN'S 'HER STORY' MONTH CHECK OUT OUR DISPLAY IN THE VISUAL ARTS HALL
(ASSEMBLED BY
A GREAT GRADE NINE VOLUNTEER TEAM) FOR FEATURED ART, ARTISTS
& CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
YEARBOOK 2018-19 available for preorder NOW. (September 2018) $26 Hardcover! .. School Cash Online - for details, contact Ms Jobanputra 
Yearbook is community & opportunity - connect now & in
the future, claim your belonging, stretch your roots, reach
your branches, expand your network, share in the surprise,
unfolding...Yearbook is us, in it, together Yearbook 2018-19
new year, new theme, new team, 30th anniversary!
Image: Yearbook Cover 2017-8 AWE4M1 (Jobanputra Group)
MARKAM FAIR ... (September 2018)
MMHS INSTALLATION (partial view)
AVI101, AVI3M1 painting & AVI4M1 curation (Middleton)
with Co-op display design, construction and assembly
commissioned Poem - Joyce Z
plus drawing additions from Visual Arts DISCOVERY (Kong, Ng)
This Year, MMHS Visual Arts and Co-Operative Education Departments collaborated on an Art Installation in support of Markham Stouffville Hospital. The project became an opportunity for us to engage and create between departments and with our community as well as explore career areas involving curation, display construction, transport and assembly. The interdisciplinary artwork featured the work of multiple students, including a collaborative feature piece from our special needs class who visited the fair and saw their artistic expression on display, alongside the work of other community artists.
Our theme, in response to the Fair's working title Old Days, New Ways, involved the connection between Art & Harvest across time and styles of art-making. The form of the installation was inspired by tradition wooden produce packing crates and roadside stands. As with many things, details emerged mid process and a new title for the show emerged from the Fair - “Cultivating Canada: Voices for the Past, Visions for the Future”. This caused us to further consider the role of Treaty Lands and Treaty Peoples as integral to our national harvest and art, within the installation. A transparent Treaty Map and outlines of Canada were placed at the center of the arrangement, with a symbolic seed, sculpture and poem, representative of potential healing and new growth. Our installation demonstrated how we may consider multiple mandates and something approaching more fulsome awareness within a creative endeavour.
MARKAM FAIR ... next year ... the 175th anniversary!
MURAL WORK ...
MMHS Community Murals live on. Visit the Healthy and Active Living Mural designed by Joe
at the Milliken Community Centre, northern (arena) entrance.
MMHSVA has also created public artworks for the Milliken Mills Community Centre Library and
lead shows at McKay House, part of the Varley Gallery, Main Street, Unionville.
Visual Arts DISCOVERY - Mindful Art Activities
In semester 2, our weekly offering will reboot under a new name, reaffirming our commitment to accessible, mindful, sustainable creative art experiences .....most TUESDAYS - P.3
ART DISCOVERY is an open, creative activity and space vs. a closed name roster or hierarchy.
All are welcome to participate in Art Discovery activities which will posted and announced to insure equal access.
DISCOVERY uses readily available, low cost, environmentally friendly materials in creative ways. Our Visual Arts experiences are open to all students and staff.
OPEN STUDIO/PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES
OPEN STUDIO is ongoing independent access to the Visual Arts studio spaces (130, 132, 242A photo studio and darkroom) by arrangement. A supervising teacher volunteer is required for you to access a studio.
Consultation is also available and recommended. See a teacher for supervision availability. Open studio is guaranteed one day per week, but often is available more frequently.
(Please do not assume that a teacher will always be available or that the art spaces are substitute daily lunchrooms.)
VISUAL ARTS CAFE CONTINUES
Join us at lunchtimes for Art & Tea & Coversation in studio environment of Room 130, a space to create and share.
(note: Visual Arts Cafe is currently paused related to Public Health Pandemic recommendations)
VISUAL ARTS VENTURES NETWORK
At MMHS, we match students to opportunity. The projects and opportunities that we create within the department are often designed to align with community initiatives and needs. We strive for real world connections, experience and relevance which further builds portfolios, resumes and leads to further opportunity in an ongoing cycle of creative manifestation. We can support students to realize volvolunteer goals, CAS porjects and build a list of creative Achievements for Resumes and Applications.
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SEE the message boards, listen to announcements & check in for details of new, rotating activities & featured topics.
ART IS OVERFLOWING - for more... for information on EVENTS, CONTESTS & OPPORTUNITIES, VISIT OUR MESSAGE BOARD, Google Classroom, Instagram. Flickr and other Webpages.
The art of teaching is the art of assisting Discovery. - Mark Van Doren
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K.Middleton, Subject Head, Visual Arts, MMHS, YRDSB
RIDA - Being in the Moment with Photography