2008 Home Assignment list, for the youth classes

The 8-12 and 12-18 year old youth classes all have "home assignments" to do throughout the year.

The list is below, but if you're wanting to print it, we strongly advise downloading this PDF, as it saves paper. (This PDF will open in any version of Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader, a free download from Adobe.)

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The list

1. A collection
2. Appliance
Stove, fridge, dishwasher. A stand-alone freezer counts, but it's pretty boring, just a box and a
handle.
3. Art supplies in a glass
4. Container with objects in it
Jar of pickles, bin of action figures, etc.
5. Crumpled currency
Paper money, mildly crumpled, not so much we can't make out the fact there's a person or scene, plus writing on it.
6. Cutlery
This means the same as silverware; forks, spoons, knifes, sporks.
7. Dishes
Must be in a sink, at sinkside, or in dishwasher.
8. Electronic device
Television, MP3 player, nose hair trimmer; something that either needs to be plugged in, or
has batteries in it.
9. Eyeglasses and hairbrush, next to table lamp
10. Fastners
Buttons/zippers/hooks, on clothing, etc.
11. Your favourite treat
12. Food display
Either actual food in your house, or packages of food at a supermarket, in a “point-of-purchase” display unit.
13. Holiday items
Any cultural or religious holiday.
14. Indoor toys or game
15. Jewelry
16. Mode of travel
Man-made or animal, anything other than your feet.
17. Open drawer
Must be from above, so that we can see into it.
18. Pet in a container
An animal in a cage or carrying container, a fish in a fishbowl or tank, a dog on a dog bed, a cat in a litterbox.
19. Raingear
20. Stuffed animal on a chair
21. Table set for guests
Kitchen table, dining room table, picnic table, deck table, tea party.

You'll find it outdoors

22. Branch of a tree
Cut, or attached.
23. Containers in a recycling box
From above, of course.
24. Garden with gardening tools
Lawn aerators, hoes, hose, shovels, etc.
25. Park
You must show a path of some sort.
26. Playground equipment
Teeter-totters, slides, monkey bars, etc.
27. Scene from a window
Make sure that it's really obvious that we're looking through a window, and not just at a
yard or landscape, or a photo in a frame. It can be any window, though, not just at your home.
28. Sports or recreational equipment
Team sports, solo activities, etc. (Despite the category, it can be indoor sports equipment too,
like squash or ice hockey.)
29. Your house, from the outside

Open-ended

30. Rhyming objects
A bell and a wishing well, a ladder and a bowl of cake batter, a cat and a hat (no Dr. Seuss characters, please.)
31. Same object, twice, the second time changed in some way
The exact same object, some how changed the second time you draw it. (Rotating it doesn't
count.)

Out and About: Peel Heritage Complex

There was a strong turnout for the interesting retrospective of Huibert Sabelis' works at the Art Gallery of Peel. As described by the Peel Heritage Complex's newsletter, "Sabelis' rich visual language draws on his experiences in Indonesia as well as his native Holland and adopted homeland, Canada. This exhibition surveys his work in various media including painting, printmaking and tapestry."

Both the Hugh Van Melle Trio, which provided music throughout the night, and the Balinese dance performance, which was a finale to the speeches by dignitaries, were very entertaining.

Visit Sabelis' website.

This is our first Visual Arts Brampton video blog; it's only 14 seconds long, but it's a glimpse of what's on.


We will have an exhibition catalog available for in-studio viewing; ask Keith or Nick.

Vaughan Juried Exhibition

There's a Vaughan Juried Art Exhibition that we just discovered a pamphlet for. Open to anyone in the GTA, the deadline is March 14, 2008. The exhibit will be at the City Playhouse Theatre Lobby in Thornhill. Art is to be submitted as a JPEG on CD, and there's a $20 entry fee.

The pamphlet says that the City of Vaughan is starting a municipal art collection, and is using the show to scout out purchases.

There is a webpage about the exhibit, but you can also visit the studio to take a look at the pamphlet.

Life Brand Bear ends his run as mascot for Shoppers Drug Mart

We just noticed this last week: the Life Brand Bear is no more.

Why is it relevant to VAB that the Shoppers Drug Mart corporate mascot is gone? The essentially nameless character was designed by member Peter Emslie, way back when.

For the last few years, the Life Brand Bear only appeared as the tablets in the Life Brand Chewable Multivitamins, and on the same product's box. At his height, he was even a helium inflated parade balloon who appeared locally at the Brampton Santa Claus Parade (until they went for their night-time format) and even a time or two in the Calgary Stampede Parade.

When informed of its demise, Peter told us last night that he designed the character when a staff member at Disney's art department. He still illustrates children's picture books for the company. (Elmer the Safety Elephant was created by an animator working for Disney in 1930s, however it wasn't created through Disney itself.)

The new bear on some baby and child targeted Life Brand products is to the right, Peter's is on the left. Peter's survived a few decades, which is longer than many advertising characters.

Also related to Peter, you can now watch videos of him drawing a character, online.

Tonight, at the Peel Heritage Complex

The opening reception for "Huibert Sabelis: A Retrospective" is tonight, from 7 to 9 pm, at the Art Gallery of Peel, part of the Peel Heritage Complex. According to Strata, the member newsletter, "Sabelis' rich visual language draws on his experiences in Indonesia as well as his native Holland and adopted homeland, Canada. This exhibition surveys his work in various media including painting, printmaking and tapestry."

The reception, hosted by assistant curator Judy Daley, will feature a Balinese dance performance and music by the Hugh Van Melle Trio.

Attending the opening are Mr. Bambang C. Gunawan (Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia) Mr. Johan S. Kramer (Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), and
MPP for Kitchener-Waterloo, Elizabeth Witmer (former Deputy Premier of Ontario).