Yukon College launches 50th anniversary community art project

WHITEHORSE – Yukon College is calling on the territory’s diverse population to help create a unique mural for their 50th Anniversary. Yukon Diversity Art Project – I dreamed I was home is designed as a community endeavour to evoke and celebrate the cultural mosaic that exists in Yukon and is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The project will be coordinated by Yukon artist and Yukon College Artist-in-Residence Nicole Bauberger. Bauberger is a veteran facilitator of 25 community mural projects in Ontario and Yukon. Dawson City Community Library, Whitehorse Youth Centre and Whitehorse Elementary School each possess a mural facilitated by Bauberger and successfully created by children, youth or the wider community.

The Yukon College mural will be made up of 65, 16 inch square panels, and is one of the largest Bauberger has facilitated. When completed, it will stretch across the back wall and stairwell of the main reception area at Ayamdigut campus. An additional 13 panels will be created for each of the College’s community campuses and learning centres.

“I would really like to see a lot of people get involved from Yukon’s diverse cultural community - the only pre-requisite is enthusiasm,” said Nicole Bauberger. “There are a wide range of things to do for all kinds of experience levels and lots of opportunities for people to discover and explore their creative abilities.”

The theme for this project, “I dreamed I was home”, comes from a traditional Tlingit song associated with the Story of Kaax’achgóok (Kach-ach-gook), sung by Mrs. Angela Sidney when she gave the name “Ayamdigut” to the College’s Whitehorse campus at its’ official opening in October 1988.

Work sessions for the mural will run each week throughout September, October and November, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Initial sessions will involve participants working together to design the mural, followed by two stages of painting.

“An art project where many people brainstorm, design, and paint together is a lot of fun and there is a real sense of group ownership at the end,” said Bauberger. “It can be a little wild at this stage, not knowing what it will turn out to be, but it’s important to hold that space open for the community to create something new.”

Bauberger will launch the community art project on Tuesday September 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the Pit at Ayamdigut campus. The launch will include Angela Sidney’s daughter, Mrs. Ida Calmegane, as a special guest, to tell the Story of Kaax’achgóok and sing the song that includes the mural’s theme. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information please email Nicole at nbauberger@yahoo.com or collegerelations@yukoncollege.yk.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Nicole Bauberger
Artist-in-residence
Yukon College
nbauberger@yahoo.com

Michael Vernon
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon College
867.668.8786
867.332.4722
mvernon@yukoncollege.yk.ca