Mélodie Coutou

Born in 1977, Mélodie Coutou is a Métis from Quebec. She draws her Indigenous Heritage from her mother, from the Mi'kmaq Nation and her father hailed from France. Her indigenous roots are at the foundation of her environmental values and artistic practices.  Mélodie lives and raises her family In the Outaouais. As an ecological artist passionate about the environment and social action, Mélodie Coutou (La Ressourcière) uses obsolete and discarded objects in her installations and sculptures. By highlighting the relationship between causes and effects of natural resource exploitation, she draws attention to the impact of humans on biodiversity and ecosystems.

Curriculum Links

Explore a variety of tools, materials, and processes of their own choice to create visual art forms in familiar and new ways; communicate ideas and emotions; create two- and three-dimensional works of art that express personal feelings and ideas inspired by the environment or that have the community as their subject.

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Eco-Talking sticks

The one who holds the stick has the right to speak, the others have the right to listen. Using beaver hewn sticks, students will draw on the four elements to personalize their own stick. Choosing a variety of materials such as leather, fur, shells, feathers and other found objects, they will develop knotting and braiding skills as they tie these elements onto their stick. Materials $3 + HST per student

Participants: Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12	Maximum: 30
Discipline: Visual Arts
Time and Price: Half day: two 75 minute sessions $335 + HST Full day: three 75 minute sessions $435 + HST

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Contemporary Cornhusk dolls: a new interpretation

Begin with cornhusks, either natural coloured, or dyed with beet or turmeric. Manipulate them into a doll shape, and then adorn them with a selection of materials such as dried or fresh flowers, feathers, fur, beads, leather, shells or pinecones. The result is a combination of a stick puppet and corn doll. Materials $3 + HST per student

Participants: Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12	Maximum: 30
Discipline: Visual Arts
Time and Price: Half day: two 75 minute sessions $335 + HST Full day: three 75 minute sessions $435 + HST

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Eco-Totems: a collective and collaborative workshop

The artist will work with students to connect the sacred symbol of the totem with reflection on what we dispose of as a society. Inspired by this image of the First Nations People, participants will create one or more contemporary, personal sculptures from common discarded materials. This workshop may be offered as an individual project, a group project or a project that the whole school participates in.

Participants: Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12	Maximum: 15
Discipline: Visual Arts
Time and Price: Half day: one 2 ½ hour session $345 + HST Full day: two 2 ½hour sessions $445 + HST Five full day residency: two 2 ½ hour sessions per day $2225 + HST Materials not included; dependent on project.