June 13, 2011
Fine Arts’ Fallen Soldiers portraits added to Canadian War Museum collection
Langley Member of Parliament Mark Warawa and a representative from the Canadian War Museum will attend a ceremony at LFAS June 17 where the portraits, which attracted nation-wide attention when they were first exhibited in November 2009, will officially be turned over.
Media are invited to the ceremony transferring the portraits to the Canadian War Museum on Friday, June 17, 2:30 p.m. at Chief Sepass Theatre, 9096 Trattle Street, Langley Fine Arts School, Fort Langley, BC. Media are asked to arrive by 2pm.
“Our office is thrilled by the opportunity to facilitate the acceptance of this collection as a whole by the War Museum of Canada to ensure that the collection is kept together, and that the stories of the soldiers and the students who painted their portraits are preserved,” said Mr. Warawa.
“Kept together, these portraits remind us of the unity of these soldiers in their patriotism and their professionalism, even unto death.”
While the portraits are being packed and readied for shipment to their new home in Ottawa the students who painted them will be completing final exams and preparing to head on to ‘the four-corners’ of the post-secondary world.
“This is terrific timing,” said Fine Arts Principal Jon Bonnar. “For these students to know that their works, and the subjects of their works, will be permanently honoured in the Canadian War Museum is great news.”
Teacher Peter Sarganis, who proposed the exhibit to his students after being deeply moved by images on the Canadian Forces Fallen Canadians web page, is glad the collection now has a home. In completing their works his students went beyond the available images, researching “their soldiers” on the Internet and in some cases contacting families. One of Mr. Sarganis’ goals was to ensure families would get prints of the portraits.
He also wanted to see the project continue to be available as a resource to help young Canadians appreciate the sacrifices soldiers and their families make during times of conflict and war.
For more information on the project please see the attached links:
www.vancouversun.com
www.globaltvbc.com
