Past collides with present at upcoming Korah art gallery

Students at Korah Collegiate are getting ready to display upwards of 500 art pieces from past and present when the school’s third annual “Korah Borealis” gallery opens for a one-night public viewing tomorrow.

Headlining this year’s showcase are 67 pieces of art from the school’s alumni, most of which are dated back to the 1980s and 90s.

Made by students in art classes of the past, the old pieces feature landscapes, figure drawing, and reduction print making.

They’ll be for sale by donation and could potentially be auctioned off, said Korah art teacher Cathreen Baber.

“The school started in 1967, so to have 67 pieces of alumni art from Korah is really special,” she told SooToday. “It’s almost meant to be.”

Current art students from grades 7 through 12 will also be sharing their work throughout the second floor of the school while celebrating this year’s theme: “Heartbreakers”

“The theme is really all about your moment; when you’re really living your life, making art, and feeling happy,” Baber explained. “We’re showcasing that with the art that the kids are making here. We have a lot of heart themes happening.”

Also included in the show will be an installation piece which will feature a specially assembled showcase of heart and love themes that students worked on collectively.

Astounded by the evolution of Korah’s art program over the years, Baber is excited for the community to get a close-up look of the young and vibrant talent in Sault Ste. Marie.

“There’s a heartbeat in our art room,” she said. “Every day at lunch, we have kids coming in and working on different projects, stuff for classes, stuff on their own — it’s great. You can feel the energy. Art’s always been a focus here.”

“And we’re still teaching those traditional mediums and styles you see in the alumni pieces, but we’re also teaching all the stuff you see on social media,” she added. “It’s a lot of voice and choice for kids that we’re able to work in and still hit on those old skills too.”

The Korah Borealis showcase will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Attendees can begin the gallery walk in the foyer at the McMeeken entrance, up the stairs to the corral and cafeteria, then towards the library.

Appetizers from the school’s Foods department will be available from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. inside the cafeteria.

Then from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., visitors can enjoy some live music provided by Mustang Sally in the auditorium.

Admission to the gallery is free, but donations are accepted at the door. A limited number of “Heartbreaker” t-shirts will also be available for $20 each.

All funds raised tomorrow will go towards Korah’s art department.