Villanova students giving artful assist to River Lights

Panels being made for sides of "gingerbread warming house"

Posted By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo

Posted 19 days ago

Rebecca Johnson and Katrina Goulet create one of the panels that will be affixed to the "gingerbread warming house" during River Lights. (Photo: Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo)

LASALLE — The transformation of the pavilion at Toddy Jones Park into the "gingerbread warming house" for the upcoming River Lights winter festival will largely involve the work of St. Thomas of Villanova Secondary School art students.

Twenty-eight Gr. 12 art students have been working for the last few weeks on nine panels that will be attached to the walls of the "warming house." Armed with nothing more than the knowledge that they had to have gingerbread people and candy canes, the panels feature artwork depicting gingerbread people fishing, playing hockey and playing in bands just to name a few.

"This is far beyond what I have dreamed," said River Lights administrator Karen Gyorgy.

The panels started as large pieces of Styrofoam insulation and evolved as craft paper, glue and water were paper machéd to the foam. They are being painted with exterior latex paint and then varnished.

Art department head Lisa Bastien explained that the designs aren't being carved into the foam, but rather added on to it.

"All I said was gingerbread men and candy canes," she said. "They came up with all these designs themselves."

Bastien said her Gr. 12 students have done the bulk of the work although the Gr. 10 students have helped as well.

"The kids have been awesome in running with this," said Gyorgy.

Bastien said the students were "very excited" about the project. She added that they wanted to give back to the community and that although they are "in the middle of a farmer's field" in terms of location, Villanova students are still passionate and giving back to the communities they draw from.

Gyorgy indicated that is a similarity to what River Lights is doing as "River Lights is all about giving back to the community." She said she knew Bastien and that Bastien was creative so the partnership developed. Bastien noted that they were originally approached about doing murals but decided this project would work better.

"I approached her and the rest is history," said Gyorgy.

Bastien said the arts program is strong at Villanova and that they are challenging students to think outside of normal avenues. The nine sculpted panels will be turned over to River Lights but able to be used by the school if need be. It is hoped by both Gyorgy and Bastien that the works will be noticed by the people that attend and that those who did them will invite family and friends to view them.

"This is how we can see art in action," said Bastien.

River Lights starts Nov. 19 and runs through early January.