Michael Osborne

From Lower North Shore

Michael Osborne's Art Project

From November 25 th. 2008 to June 14 th. I took part in organizing, and teaching in Old Fort/St. Pauls River, St. Augustine . La Tabatiere, Harrington Harbour , Chevery and Kegaska school. The initiation of the project was encouraged with dialogue between Eileen Scholfield, David Caldaresi, and myself. In the beginning I believed at the time and still believe it is the single most ambitious and beneficial project I have encountered in Lower North Shore history, mainly because it taught and provided education to children, and adults through insight into our spirit, mind, and immediate resources on the lower north shore. This project appears to have been a resounding success and also shows that we have the knowledge, talent, and exceptional creative and constructive capabilities locally to succeed. We can take action here on the Lower North Shore through cultural and productive actions which are hands on, practical, and become lasting entities. These projects carry on in the minds of the students involved, and provide a long lasting educational tool, and cultural insight into the future.

We also see our funding utilized where it is most needed. The cultural sector has been neglected in funding, and has not been tied in with education, cultural, and the economy. For many decades we have lost as young artists, because millions of dollars was funneled outside the coast, and not allocated directly to our artisans and artist and teachers living here. I myself have observed many government funded projects of art into architecture given to artists outside the coast. Art installations were placed in the schools and public buildings while I struggled to live and work just one kilometer in my studio in Chevery, Quebec, a sad and discouraging reminder that action and decisions were being made and taken off the coast with minimal consultation with schools, student/parent/principal involvement. One can imagine how I was so amazed to see that the local C.L.D. the council of mayors, including: Richmond Monger, Jimmy Ransom, Randy Jones, Camil Fequet, Lionel Roberts, and Armand Joncas, and government could fund and support an amazing and worthwhile art and cultural project right here at home. I thank them all and all the teachers, principals, janitors, parents, and people in the communities who contributed to make this a success. Please enjoy the photos of the masterpieces and the beaming faces of the children of our future.

Michael Osborne, fine art teacher (MFA, BFA) Chevery, Quebec

Gallery