Splash! Winter 2003

When babies come into the world, one of the first things they figure out, even before learning to sit up or crawl, is how to imagine that their pacifier, teddy bear or special blanket can serve as a temporary replacement for their mother. Latching on to a transitional object is one of the first acts of imagination – the baby has learned how to "pretend" or imagine while still an infant.

Just as we all have a basic need for food, shelter and safety, we also have a basic instinct to imagine, or put in other words, to create. We all need to imagine.

When our imagination is active, we can be anyone we want to be, we can go where we want to go and with whomever we choose to go with. It is through the choices we make in our imagination that we define our uniqueness. There is nothing more empowering to any of us than to exercise choices and thereby discover who we really are.

This is as true for adults as it is for children. Adults who exercise their imagination see possibilities that are not obvious. Adults who have indulged their capacity to imagine are the innovators of this world. They also have more fun because it's natural for them to play around with ideas and playing is fun.

Children whose imagination is fostered and validated feel empowered by the very act of making choices, even though the choices are "just in their head." For this reason it is critical to create the conditions for all children to be able to see possibilities for themselves that require a stretch of the imagination.

Changes, with works by Sandy Brand • Millpond Cafe, 106 Victoria St. W., Alliston, November 4 to January 10, 2002

One of A Kind, show and sale with works by Diane Hamilton • National Trade Centre, booth 053, November 28 to December 8, 2002

Studio Sale by Diane Hamilton • 2 Montrose Ave., December 14 & 15/02, 10am-6pm, www.jumpclay.com

DUDE show with works by Diane Hamilton • Latvian House at Bathurst and College, December 20 to 22, 2002

The Winter's Tale with Jennifer Gould • National Arts Centre, Ottawa, January 10 to February 1, 2003

Memories and Testimonies, with works by Sadko Hadzihansanovic • Hart House, U of T, February 6 to March 6, 2003

Editorial	Student Profile
We need to imagine	Isabel Osawamick
When babies come into the world, one of the first things they figure out, even before learning to sit up or crawl, is how to imagine that their pacifier, teddy bear or special blanket can serve as a temporary replacement for their mother. Latching on to a transitional object is one of the first acts of imagination – the baby has learned how to "pretend" or imagine while still an infant. Just as we all have a basic need for food, shelter and safety, we also have a basic instinct to imagine, or put in other words, to create. We all need to imagine. When our imagination is active, we can be anyone we want to be, we can go where we want to go and with whomever we choose to go with. It is through the choices we make in our imagination that we define our uniqueness. There is nothing more empowering to any of us than to exercise choices and thereby discover who we really are. This is as true for adults as it is for children. Adults who exercise their imagination see possibilities that are not obvious. Adults who have indulged their capacity to imagine are the innovators of this world. They also have more fun because it's natural for them to play around with ideas and playing is fun. Children whose imagination is fostered and validated feel empowered by the very act of making choices, even though the choices are "just in their head." For this reason it is critical to create the conditions for all children to be able to see possibilities for themselves that require a stretch of the imagination. *Lola Rasminsky, Director* Faculty Shows Changes, with works by Sandy Brand • Millpond Cafe, 106 Victoria St. W., Alliston, November 4 to January 10, 2002 One of A Kind, show and sale with works by Diane Hamilton • National Trade Centre, booth 053, November 28 to December 8, 2002 Studio Sale by Diane Hamilton • 2 Montrose Ave., December 14 & 15/02, 10am-6pm, www.jumpclay.com DUDE show with works by Diane Hamilton • Latvian House at Bathurst and College, December 20 to 22, 2002 The Winter's Tale with Jennifer Gould • National Arts Centre, Ottawa, January 10 to February 1, 2003 Memories and Testimonies, with works by Sadko Hadzihansanovic • Hart House, U of T, February 6 to March 6, 2003	Isabelle Osawamick enrolled in the Integrated Arts for the Teaching Professional, hoping that the course instruction would be helpful to her in the work she does with Aboriginal children. She grew up speaking Ojibwe in Wikwemikong, a First Nations settlement on Manitoulin Island. She is deeply committed to passing on the language and traditions to children and has become a knowledgeable resource person on the challenges of teaching Native language in an urban setting. She herself has trained other members of her community to teach the language and is pursuing a diploma from Lakehead University, which will allow her to teach Native language anywhere in North America. Isabelle studied Sociology and Aboriginal Studies at the University of Toronto and has dedicated most of her working life to community efforts. Five years ago she helped start a program for children aged 3-6 called the Aboriginal Head Start, with three locations in Toronto. Isabelle is the Cultural Language Teacher at two sites and welcomes the artistic input of Susie Whaley, preschool teacher at the Avenue Road Arts School, who spends one morning a week at the St. Clair site under the auspices of Arts for Children of Toronto. Isabelle has been a tireless worker for her community. For five years she was a member of the Board of Directors at NaMeRes, a Native men's residence at St. Clair and Vaughan Road and served as their Corporate Treasurer for two years. She has fundraised, developed youth programs, and in cooperation with the Jewish organization Vehavta, has helped to expand the Street Help Program – collecting blankets, warm clothing and sleeping bags for street people and distributing food to street people. Isabelle is finding her teacher training class at the Arts School both stimulating and useful. "My own teaching has become more artful. I like to transmit the language in visual ways and learning to make art in this course has helped me to do that. Our culture involves lots of myths and legends and it's very helpful for me to learn to draw animals and other elements of nature."

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