About InSight:
InSight is the culmination of an Artist-in-the-Schools program that connected students with Swiss-Canadian artist Ernest Daetwyler. The artworks created by the students involved will be showcased in Expressions—KWAG's annual exhibition in collaboration with the Waterloo Region Catholic District School Board and Waterloo Region District School Board and is sponsored by Activa.
Organized by KWAG’s Public Programs Department, Expressions 50: Foresight has attracted 150 local school board and home-schooled students from JK through Grade 12, including KWAG’s Youth Council and InSight Artist in Residence program.
Below is a question-and-answer style interview between Ernest Daetwyler, InSight Artist-in-the-Schools, and Áine Belton, Manager, Marketing and Communications, KWAG.
How did the conversation begin with you as an artist and with the theme of "Foresight"?
Out of the blue, really, with an e-mail invitation from the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery and a subsequent zoom meeting with KWAG staff. It is of course a distinct honour to be invited by a public art gallery that engages in highly relevant and current contemporary art exhibitions, often shaping the discourse far beyond the region, across Canada and internationally. The various programming activities at KWAG have been consistently excellent for many years.
Did anything the students say or do along the process change the direction of the projects?
The students responded best to the idea of portraying themselves in relation to the theme, a kind of life-size visual art selfie in any medium they chose. Other ideas, such as bringing artifacts from home or other places in relation to the theme to create a large site-specific installation or sculptural immersive environment in the space or video clips with a one- or two-line statement, were less popular. Most students, though, brought a written sentence or two about their interpretations of "Foresight" as a theme. These notes may be included in the exhibition.
Did the students try a variety of media during the project?
In my first workshop in Ann Weiler's class at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge, I gave an informal artist talk/presentation about my multi-disciplinary art practice to open up all possibilities in terms of media to engage with the theme. The message was, that "everything is possible" and that the teacher and I are more facilitators/companions in making their vision a reality. As a joke, I showed them also a slide of an Andy Warhol online meme with his "fifteen minutes of fame" line, referencing the public nature of the exhibition at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery we will work toward and that their work will be seen. The workshops and resulting artworks in the gallery space engage in visual arts media such as drawing, painting, mixed media, and collage with sculptural elements.
How do you think the students responded to the theme "Foresight"?
My impression was that the theme "Foresight" seemed a bit abstract in the beginning. There is to say, that this generation of students is connected and exposed to everything that is happening in a challenging world where the notion of "Foresight" seems to be mostly missing. Connecting the theme to them in a personal way as valuable individuals with a voice and as a visual self-portrait with their aspirations, hopes, and concerns created a spark, an inspiration they could relate to. At the same time, it was a challenge for Grade 11 students to draw and paint themselves on a five-by-three-foot piece of paper on the wall... Because of space requirements, we were leaving the classroom and were working in an open space in the foyer with a skylight. I think that this approach was also helpful in creating the artwork and the interactive casual workshop/community energy that carried everyone through.
What was it like for you as a professional artist to work with these students?
My art projects in Canada or abroad, most recently at the 15th Havana Biennial in Cuba at the end of last year, often invite young people, students, volunteers or hired technicians for various tasks to become part of the experience. It is important to create a space where young people want to become engaged and feel that their contributions are being seen and valued.
Do you think there should be more experiences like KWAG's Artist-in-the-Schools program in the future?
Definitely, I think that the Artist-in-the-Schools program is quite an amazing win-win scenario for every party involved: the students, the teacher, the school, the artist, the public art gallery and their audience, the City and the region. I think that, particularly after the pandemic, the authentic and personal experience of art and the people who create it has become more popular and valuable. People appreciate community and connection.
Are there any great take-aways for you as an artist having worked closely with the students?
The students at St. Benedict CSS inspired and encouraged me to continue in community art projects and involve the young generation in collaborations. I am very grateful for this experience and find it rewarding.
About the artist
Ernest Daetwyler is a Swiss-Canadian multidisciplinary artist whose public art projects and exhibitions are presented both nationally and internationally. He studied at institutions in Switzerland and Italy and has received numerous awards, including from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation. A founding member and former director of CAFKA, Ernest is known for his environmental and community-focused public art. Recent projects span Canada, Germany, and the Ivory Coast, and he participated in the 15th Havana Biennial in Cuba from 15 November 2024 to 28 February 2025.
