History in a Box: Diorama making

Saturday, August 9th
Noon to 2pm
3pm to 5pm, at the Art Gallery of Mississauga
Ages 8-12 yrs
FREE pre registration suggested to ensure a spot
Register at info.agm@mississauga.ca or call 905 896 5506

History in a Box: Diorama making
A diorama is an imaginary mini-world or a scene in a box. Dioramas can incorporate cut outs, figures, models and drawings.

During the exhibition, Explorers and Dandies in an open letter to Canada Post: Frederick Hagan & Kent Monkman, Educator, Shaun Dacey will work with children ages 8 to 12 to explore how our official version of history is recorded. Through the creation of colourful dioramas, based on the works of Frederick Hagan and Kent Monkman, children will have the opportunity re-imagine history’s events with themselves as the authors.

Frederick Hagan’s (b. 1918, d. 2003) works have had the honour of being sanctioned to represent Canadian history. Issued from 1986-89, the Explorations of Canada postage stamp series was commissioned by Canada Post as a tribute to select explorers.

The current practice of artist Kent Monkman shares a similarity, in that history is regarded. However, it is an unsanctioned history which the artist constructs from the mined personal accounts of George Catlin, the traditions of 19th century landscape painting and the experiences of indigenous and two spirited people.

Explorers and Dandies in an open letter to Canada Post: Frederick Hagan & Kent Monkman will be on view at the Art Gallery of Mississauga until September 7, 2008.