Michael Cywink is a long-time friend of ArtBridges and an artist with the Ontario Arts Council’s Aboriginal Artists in Schools program. He was recently invited to a school in Guelph, Ontario. He worked with students from grades JK through 6 to create 7 canvas murals based on First Nations culture and stories. The school is currently raising funds through crowdfunding website MyClassNeeds.ca to have the murals professionally framed. Donate until April 9th, 2015.

From MyClassNeeds.ca:

“My Students:
I am a teacher-librarian and teach every student in my school- approximately 350 students. Our school is a JK- grade 6 school located in a low income/ high needs area in Guelph, Ontario. Through the generous donation from the Ontario Art Council we invited an aboriginal artist -Michael Cywink- to our school to work with all 350 students for one week. The outcome was astonishing and our school created 7 aboriginal murals. We now are tasked with funding the framing of these exceptional pieces of art.

How will this project impact them?
The project was an outstanding success thus far but we need money to complete the project. I have personally funded the supplies for the project but realize that we need help to complete this project and have the 6′ by 5’4″ painted canvas murals framed-stretched and protected with a gloss. Every student from JK to grade 6 has contributed in the drawing and/or painting of these pieces of art. They are a great source of pride for our students and community and we want to have them completed and hung on the walls of our school and in our community. Donations will go to the framing and preparation of these 7 works of art depicting the aboriginal beliefs and culture.”