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.

Make A Change

My art shows that First Nations people stick together no matter what. Wherever life takes you, stand up for your self. Don't lay low and just wish it would just go away. Make a change and use your voice.

Jill, Grade 9

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 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.

Brighter Life

My artwork represents how educated women can help lead other women out of poverty into brighter futures. In many countries, women are often oppressed, uneducated, or sold into prostitution, but if even a few women are empowered, they can change these conditions for others. The region which I was trying to represent is Nepal. I did this by incorporating the mountainous landscape. From this project, I learnt that in a survey of Nepalese women ages twenty to forty-nine, sixty percent were married as children. These early marriages are a contributing factor to the lack of education for girls in Nepal. However, education could break the cycle of poverty, early marriages, and lack of education. The colours represent the difference education can make in women's lives, and how important their education really is.

- Megan, Grade 10

Tigers At Heart

In my artwork, I chose to represent Somalia. I did this by incorporating tigers, an African border, and people wearing African war masks. I used water colour and ink to mix together bright patterns.  My painting is supposed to show how fiercely woman can fight to break through poverty if they are given the chance. Every day, terrible things happen to over 1 000 women in Somalia. Only 24% of woman are literate and 1 in 10 woman risk dying during pregnancy. Many woman are forced into prostitution to help support their families, and 97% of female prostitutes start before the age of 14.  Even though many woman are never given a chance to be great, they still shine on the inside, and the hand of a man will never be able to force down that power.

- Jaymee, Grade 10

Making a Difference

If one woman can change her life and make a difference in the lives of others, imagine what 3.3 million strong and capable women can do.... My painting is meant to replicate this idea. The woman in my painting is strong and holding a tool of power- the hammer. With the hammer she strikes a glass ball. The ball is a symbol of poverty, and everything women must fight to be free and independent. The tip of the hammer is immersed in blue flames. These flames are a literal and figurative representation of the force women can make. Overall my painting is demonstration of the impact women can make as individuals and as a group.

-Morgan, Grade 10

Souls of Women

Women all around the world don't get a chance to have an education. Women at a young age are forced to get married and to raise a family. What most people don't know is that women can change the world. For my art project, I chose to show how education can light up the souls of women. Hopefully my art work will change the minds of others to take a stand for women, and to let women marry at a proper age and to have children when they want.

- Dominique, Grade 9





Watch for more student artwork . . .

Girls Make Art For Change

Art Changes People. People Change the World.

A dedicated group of Art students believe in their ability to promote change.

When we educate and invest in women, we empower them to rise out of poverty and promote peace. Follow this group of grade 9/10 girls as they create artworks highlighting their belief in the power of women around the world. 

These girls are busy researching and thinking and painting.  Starting in January, they will begin posting their visions of women.