Education / Professional Associations
- M.A. ( art education/curriculum studies) University of British Columbia (2004)
- B.F.A. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon (1983)
- Early Childhood Certification, Vancouver Community College (1998)
- International Montessori Teaching Certificate , Toronto, (1984)
Biography
I am interested in the role the arts play in our every day life, particularly in the aspect of community cultural development. Community cultural development distinguishes itself by its direct connection with community engagement, rooted in notions of life-centered issues and cultural production. Community cultural development does not follow a prescribed definition or a cookie cutter-how to guide. But rather emerges from processes of a community’s identification and interpretation of local issue within the broader spectrum of social, cultural and historical contexts. Community cultural development can be seen as a way of building or enacting community which pushes the opportunity for people to have voice, create meaning and represent their collective identity. In this way it has everything to do with relationships and the negotiation of meanings and value among people. The scope and breadth of this work being developed in Canada is as diverse as the community members, themselves. The objective of the Arts, Culture and Heritage class that I teach in the Langara Diploma program, is for students to become familiar with the spectrum of arts programming offered in the field of recreation. Not only do we investigate the burgeoning field of artist/community collaboration; students are introduced to the vast and growing range of classes offered as a leisure choice. The goal is to instil and enhance the students’ value and understandings for the arts in our society and the role it plays in developing healthy communities for which they will be responsible in their recreation careers.
Selected Community –Arts Based Projects
- 2008, Footprints, youth centered project, investigating sustainability involving 300 youth and 11 artists resulting in an exhibition, Vancouver.
- 2007, Who are we? youth centered project, based on defining and representing community identity and nationalism working with over 1000 age 5-13 year olds, 10 artists from the lower mainland, Vancouver.
- 2004, Welcome, ceramic tile community- art piece created by 120 students for the front lobby of their school, Vancouver.
- 2003, Thunderbird Community Centre, ceramic tile community-art piece created by 250 community members for the front lobby of this newly renovated community center.
- 2000, Templeton Park Pool, ceramic tile community-art piece created by 500 community members, based on ones cultural heritage, permanently installed on the exterior of Templeton Park Pool, Vancouver
Office: A244
Phone: 604.323.5683
cchwelos@langara.bc.ca
