An art class at Collingwood Collegiate Institute (CCI) took some lessons in Deep Purple, Yellow Brick Road, and Another Green World to get ready for a special art show and sale.
Steve Zago, an art teacher at CCI, and Bob Madigan, owner of Mad Dog’s Coffee and Vinyl Café have been talking for a long time about using the café to showcase student art. They decided Tonight’s the Night … well, Saturday is the day.
Madigan donated canvases for each student in Zago’s class, and Zago encouraged his grade 12 class to start looking at album covers they’d like to recreate in acrylic paint.
“We’re always looking at art history,” said Zago. “But it was fun to look at pop culture … It was really cool to see them dig into the archives and make choices.”
Zago said he gives the students his “two cents,” but encourages them to choose something that stands out to them.
“I don’t have them cater to me,” said Zago.
All the same, he did receive some submissions from [His] Generation and some more modern albums. There wasn’t a lot of classic rock, but he Nevermind[s] as long as the students are pushing themselves to grow as artists.
“At this point, they are at the end of a four-year career in art, and they’re pretty invested,” said Zago. “I’m proud of them.”
The artwork will be on display upstairs at Mad Dog’s starting Saturday (Dec. 8), with an artists’ reception from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The art will remain on display all week and will be for sale by silent auction. All the proceeds raised will go to the Fay Foundation, which provides annual bursaries at both CCI and Jean Vanier Catholic High School.
Zago’s art students have spent A Hard Day’s Night working on these paintings, but it will all be Hunky Dory if the silent auction pays off for the Fay foundation. Once School’s Out for the weekend, the students will be heading over to Mad Dog’s for the artists’ reception, which could be the Genesis of a lifelong art career for some of them.
“I’m stoked about the venue,” said Zago. “It’s a little unorthodox from what they’re used to.”
Madigan is also excited to finally host the art show he’s been thinking about for years.
“These are some super-talented students and I wanted to give them an opportunity, and others an opportunity to see that,” said Madigan. “These youth have so much value to offer.”
Madigan and Zago promise the art will be just as good as you Imagine, and hope to see art and pop culture lovers Bringing It All Back Home. C’Mon C’Mon out to support the art students and check out their Physical Graffiti.
The Doors of the cafe will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
