York University environmental educators help Grades 1-6 GTA students turn their hands, head and heart to working with and for environment

TORONTO, March 19, 1999 -- About 100 students from two GTA schools will take over the De Leon White Gallery on Monday, March 22 to explore their relationship to the environment through art.

Grades 1-6 students from Alpha Alternative School and St. Marguerite Bourgeoys will work with environmental educators from York University's Faculty of Environmental Studies. Workshops include: our relationship to water in urban landscapes -- such as the Don Valley; printmaking and pigment making from spices, art and construction with "found" objects, music and environmental soundscapes, and life cycles of plants and people. The grade six classes will show a 13-minute video they recently completed of commercials for fictional Y2K products -- such as sun screen for an ozone-absent environment.

This event is part of the fifth annual Eco Art and Media Festival, co-sponsored by the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Fine Art and Education at York University.

Who:
Environmental educators from York University
Eduard de Souza (Taddle Creek activist)
Grades 1-6 students from Alpha Alternative School/ St. Marguerite Bourgeoys in Pickering

When:
Monday, March 22, 1999; Workshops: 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.

Where:
DeLeon White Gallery
455 King St. West (at Spadina)

Photo-op Note: Children to create vibrant mural using spice pigments; Y2K commercials video

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For more information, please contact:

Quade Hermann
Faculty of Environmental Studies
York University
(416) 736-5252 or (416) 654-2819

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor, Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
YU/025/99