The Alexander Mackenzie Visual Arts Department includes Visual Arts and the specialized program, Arts Mackenzie.
With its many areas to explore including: painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media, digital media, film and photography, visual arts at Alexander Mackenzie will enhance your creativity, help you build a portfolio, provide opportunities for volunteering and public display of work and generally open your mind to new ideas and experiences. We strive to achieve a balance of traditional artistic skills along with conceptual development and critical thinking. Students in our courses will learn visual literacy skills, creative problem solving, and the value of engaging in and appreciating the Arts.
Benefits of Taking Art
The arts can nurture creativity, build confidence and focus, develop problem-solving skills, allow for expression and creativity, improve visual discrimination skills, develop self-discipline and responsibility, increase motivation to learn, provide fulfillment through productivity, create cultural and historical awareness, develop the ability to make aesthetic judgments and build collaboration skills. It The arts have also been shown to help improve academic performance.
Arts Mackenzie Visual Arts Specialized Program
Alexander Mackenzie is home to one of four regional arts programs in our board for students who want to immerse themselves in the arts experience. Entrance is by application and audition. Applications and audition requirements may be found online. Students are part of an immersive arts community with workshops, field trips, guest artists and showcase opportunities.
The Arts and Culture Council
All students are welcome to be a part of our Arts and Culture Council, an open group that meets once a week from 3:00-4:00. Here students participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities. ACC students organize numerous school events and create many banners and posters for school activities. Students also have the opportunity to learn new skills and experiment with materials through teaching and learning from each other and guest artists in a community of peers that also appreciate the arts. Students are given leadership and volunteer hour opportunities as they act as ambassadors for school events including parent’s nights, open houses and other events.
Visual Arts Department Staff
Mrs. Bhatia
Mr. Fogg
Ms. Khoudiachova
Ms. Silva
Visual Arts Courses
