Chloe Li<\/p>\n
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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWHAT <\/em>is it!?\u201d, usually accompanied by a flabbergasted expression, is the most common response I got to the question \u201cWhat do you think of the new public art standing outside our school?\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Admittedly, the big sheaf of paper covered in signatures on Roehampton is a little hard to make sense of. The huge metal cube standing on metal stilts covered with metallic words on Broadway is even more difficult to make sense of. But rest assured, NT\u2014these are pieces of art. And these pieces of art have been carefully selected for our school, by a jury composed of members of the North Toronto community and visual art experts (including Dr. Elizabeth Legge, a professor of Art History at the University of Toronto).<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The sculpture on Broadway, titled Mindshadows<\/em>, was created by artist Catherine Widgery specifically to reflect the vivacious spirit of North Toronto. Widgery, who studied art at Yale University, describes the piece as \u201cknowledge and rational thought in provocative combinations\u201d. She was given suggestions of words to place on the sculpture by Mr. Gorenkoff and students at NT. Take one look at some of the words on the sculpture: Spirit, Dream, Legacy, Up \u2026<\/em>It isn\u2019t hard to figure out why Mindshadows <\/em>fits at North Toronto.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Though its connection to NT isn\u2019t hard to figure out, Mindshadows <\/em>has been met with mixed opinions: the NT student body has reacted with some trepidation, while many staff members believe we are lucky to have public art at all. Zach Brisebois and Samantha Chong-Luke, executives of the NT Art Council, remark: \u201cIt\u2019s so grey. <\/em>It doesn\u2019t inspire because of its lack of colour. The words aren\u2019t very legible.\u201d Emma Carscadden, Grade 12 student and member of Student Council, says, \u201cIt takes a while to appreciate, to actually read the words. But it\u2019s still cool because it\u2019s different from what we usually see.\u201d On the other hand, Ms. Marquis, one of our art teachers, believes, \u201cWe are incredibly <\/em>lucky to have public art. How many other schools have art to reflect what happens at the school? It\u2019s unique, beautiful, and speaks to the community.\u201d Mr. Gorenkoff, too, believes that public art fortifies the link between North Toronto and the vibrant community that surrounds it. \u201cThe public art is just one example of the many ways that our school is an integral part of the greater North Toronto community,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The piece of public art on Roehampton, called What\u2019s Your Name? <\/em>by artist Ilan Sandler, is meant, according to Sandler, \u201c[to identify] North Toronto\u2019s students, past and present, by reproducing their proper names and their handwritten signatures\u201d. In addition signatures from NT students, the sculpture will feature the first names of every student who has passed through NT\u2019s doors since its opening in 1912.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mindshadows <\/em>and What\u2019s Your Name? <\/em>may have made their quiet debut into the North Toronto community already, but NT\u2019s third piece of public art has yet to be unveiled. The last piece of public art at North Toronto will arrive in the form of \u201cenergetic and colourful\u201d red and grey glass inserts that will follow the Fibonacci sequence, designed by Toronto-based artist Panya Clark Espinal.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Keep your eyes open for our public art, NT.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chloe Li \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWHAT is it!?\u201d, usually accompanied by a flabbergasted expression, is the most common response I got to the question \u201cWhat do you think of the new public art standing outside our school?\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Admittedly, the big … Continue reading