Art Changes People. People Change the World!

High School Art Students at South Kamloops Secondary really put their hearts into their recent class project. Starting with the belief: “Art changes people. People change the world,” a dedicated group of girls set their sights on women in poverty. After thoughtful research and dynamic class discussions, these junior art students believed they could create artworks to reflect, not just the problems girls and women face, but their belief in the strength of women and how they can be the catalysts of change. 

Students were encouraged to look at different regions around the world and research some of the specific hardships girls and women endure. Next, students looked at the positive actions taken by humanitarian groups/organizations, empowering women through education and financial aid. The students quickly recognized that A LOT of people are actively involved; empowering, supporting and inspiring women.

The next step was image development and the question of how to arrange images and colours to create a compelling message; how to reveal hardships and yet suggest hope. In the end, this project engaged the students to think creatively and to think with empathy. For the students, the more they believed in the message, the more they challenged themselves to improve their technical skills and understanding of the principles of art. They really believed in the images they created, and in the potential to communicate something bigger than themselves. For me, it was inspiring to see this; to listen to their dialogue and watch as they created twenty five, diverse and uniquely compelling artworks!


In January, the students committed to posting one artwork a day to our blog, Make Art For Change. They worked through the challenging process of titling and writing artist statements to support their artwork. Then, using facebook and twitter we tackled getting the message “out there”. As a classroom teacher it is often my goal to get artwork viewed beyond the classroom walls, but getting it out to the world through the Internet was really exciting. Thank you to everyone who has viewed it so far and helped to share our message of Hope.

Girls are Valuable

My art piece is focused on Egyptian women helping the world with its difficulties. It shows that one person can take the effort to try and get the message out there; that women everywhere don't have enough rights.  Or, that women are getting them taken away by governments controlled by men  -  "but forget about it and don't change anything." But we can make changes.  So I made this to remind everyone that this world can be a better place.


Genessa, Grade 9

Release Freedom

My artwork focuses on women in Afghanistan who have no identity.  The Taliban have striped women of the their basic human rights.  Women are forced to wear burqas, long robes that cover them from head to toe.  Most women are unable to have a job or attend most schools, and their opinions are oppressed.  Women can be publicly beat or killed for violating Taliban restrictions.  Only 1-2% of Afghan women have identity cards.  My picture shows how women in Afghanistan have no identity or way to be different.  The woman in yellow at the back is standing and releasing a bird into the sky, symbolizing her freedom and strength.  The women close to her are glowing yellow, showing the effects of empowerment she has on them, and how they can change.

- Christina, Grade 10

We Can Change the World

My artwork is an acrylic painting. I decided to use acrylic because it's a bold look - and women are bold! The woman in my artwork is Rosie the Riveter. Rosie is one of the women who took the responsibility of the workforce during World War II. The widespread male enlistment left, leaving many industrial labour forces with little or no employees. Between 1940 and 1945, women in the U.S workforce increased from 27 percent to 37, and by 1945 nearly one out of four married women were out of the house doing a "man's" job.
The original image stated, "We Can Do It;" however, I altered it in my image to state "We Can Change the World," because if, "We Do It," we can change the world for the better!
We need to come together as a group and become leaders. We, as women, need to stand up for our rights and for every women that has life circumstances preventing her from succeeding, being happy, and being an independent woman. This is an issue and it needs to be seen! It needs to be fixed!

Nicola, Grade 10

The Power of a Dragon.

I chose Chinese culture for my project because millions of families resort to abortion and infanticide to make sure their child is a boy (world news msnbc.com). The traditional thinking is best described in the ancient book of songs 1000-700 b.c. 'When a son is born, Let him sleep on the bed, Clothe him with fine clothes, And give him jade to play...When a daughter is born, Let her sleep on the ground, Wrap her in common wrappings, And give broken tiles to play.' So, for my artwork, I painted a dragon with a girl holding it up. I drew this because the symbolism in my artwork is that "one girl can have the power of a dragon."

- Laura, Grade 9

Helping Hands

My artwork is about how one person can make a difference and escape poverty. My artwork represents a woman leading young children out of the grey, horrible life they live and into one filled with education and jobs of their choice, and many other things. In this process I learned some of the horrible things people do to women in different regions of the world. I think Art Can Change People. People Change the World is true, because some people just listen and don't do anything to help, but with art it may help people to visualize what actually goes on and get a clear perspective on these types of issues women struggle with in our everyday life. It may persuade people to do something about it. People need to know about some of the issues women struggle with.

Walking In Style?

My painting is a representation of mother earth, the empowerment of women, and the sacrifice women face in their everyday lives. In my painting I have a young single mother holding her pregnant stomach as the world, and a stiletto shoe. The stiletto shoe I put in to make the statement "Try Walking In Her Shoes". This statement to me means a lot because there is so many people in this world who are careless or oblivious to what woman go through in lives of poverty. One of the things I want people to realize is that woman and single mothers all over the world are a leading movement, they are the driving force in the economy. Women suffer everyday trying to provide for their children, keep a household, and provide food...but still can't afford a pair of shoes. In the meantime, the more fortunate are just sacrificing there feet to pull off a pair of fancy shoes. Look at the difference, open your eyes, and make a change. Next time your looking at a pair of over expensive shoes that you cant afford, think of the single mothers all over the world who are in need. We can make a difference.

- Makayla, Grade 9

The Tunnel of Power

In my artwork, a lonely girl is staring through her "destiny", which is symbolized as a dangerous, windy path surrounded by murky water. At the end, there's the darkest point or the hardest point that leads to the light. The tunnel symbolizes the hardest part of her life, which ends in peace. The globe of yellow represents power and strength and the women surrounding it are gathering the power. The ghostly woman below is clearly holding up the whole system with one finger. I arranged it so that you look at the bright red dress, your eyes slowly move up the tunnel and up to the top were the light is. I made it so that the painting is darker and gloomier down below, but is bright and cheery higher up. The hand on the globe symbolizes power, which is also connected to the girl in the red dresses hand. I want people to understand from my painting that no matter how rough or hopeless a woman in poverty may feel, that if she carries on, there can be light at the end of the tunnel. It surprised me the most that even in the 21st century, women are still treated with so much disrespect. I also will continue to contribute to our website. I really  hope that it will make a difference because that's what art does.

Sharbat Gula

Many people may recognize this iconic girl portrayed in my artwork; “The Afghan Girl”. This portrait was photographed by Steve McCurry in 1984 and was seen across the globe as readers of the National Geographic magazine were mesmerised by the haunted look in her eyes. Sharbat Gula was a refugee of the Soviet invasion (1979 to 1989), whose bombing murdered her parents. With nothing but war in Afganistan, she fled to Pakistan. Later in the decade, during a lull in the in the attack, Sharbat was able to return to her village. But in 1989 alone there were 200,000 refugees fleeing the country. Currently there are 3 million Afghan refugees throughout the world who need support. Sharbat's story is as powerful as  her eyes, which exude the perseverance and determination to survive. She is a fighter, she is strong and she is an inspiration to all. 

- Helena, grade 10