05.06.2018 | 06.09.2018
41ST ANNUAL ART’S ALIVE AND WELL IN THE SCHOOLS

In 1976 the Southern Alberta Art Gallery opened its doors. The following year we made a commitment to providing formative opportunities for Lethbridge students from kindergarten to grade 12. Through Art's Alive and Well in the Schools we have been able to honour youthful creativity by exhibiting their work in a leading contemporary art gallery. Now in its 41st year, we estimate Art's Alive has exhibited nearly 16,000 pieces over the decades.

This exhibition continually reminds us that art is a fundamental aspect of learning and development. The artworks use a wide variety of media and techniques – from the humble cotton ball to charcoal and mixed media of all combinations. Each year we are astounded by the way students show their unique capacity for thought, expressing everything from political views to the inner workings of the natural world. Many use art as their voice, and through it they process their unique environment and create a dialogue about topics central to their lives. Over the years we have seen students tackle the pressures of social media, commercial culture, coming of age, and more.

In addition to the hard work and dedication of students, we commend the teachers and school administrators who work tirelessly to craft a learning environment for the contemporary world.

Selected by teachers and run in collaboration with Lethbridge School District 51 and the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, the exhibition shows approximately 400 pieces of various media and style from K-12. Come to the gallery and see what the maturing artists of the future are creating.