Art gala springs back to St. Mary's College – Sault Star

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Sammi Dechamplain is going big when St. Mary’s College brings back its in-person art gala on Tuesday.

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The Grade 12 student found the biggest canvas she could for a painting based on a sunset she took at her camp north of Sault Ste. Marie.

“I had fallen in love with this picture,” said Dechamplain during a recent interview with The Sault Star. She wanted to do something with her photo for years. The “perfect opportunity” came up to paint what she saw at Quintet Lakes.

“I’m going all out,” recalled Dechamplain. “I just went to town.”

She was part of the last live gala at St. Mary’s when she was in Grade 9 in 2019. Dechamplain, 17, is looking forward to reactions of attendees when the gala runs in the school’s commons and theatre next week.

“That’s how you grow as an artist,” she said. “That’s how you celebrate being an artist is just sharing your work with other people.”

Dechamplain is one of an estimated 120 students who’ll be featured at the gala. Admission is $10. Proceeds benefit Tumaini Afrika.

“Art needs an audience,” said Adriano DiCerbo, lead teacher of the arts. “The life cycle in artwork isn’t complete unless it has an audience. We need to share the work.”

About 50 visual arts students will be featuring their drawings, paintings, photos, multi-media works, digital creations, found objects and printmaking from the 2021-2022 school year.

Gala visitors will be hearing lots from Mahaz Syed.

He’ll front a rock band for a performance of Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters, drawn from the American group’s self-titled fifth album released in 1992.

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“I feel like it’s more soft rock,” said Syed of his chosen song. “It’s not very hard metal. It’s a slower tune.”

The Grade 12 student will be accompanied by music teacher Kait Tappenden for his mashup of Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black and Michael Buble’s Sway.

Syed will also appear for a pair of songs with SMC Singers.

A veteran of SMC Spotlight’s production of We Will Rock You in 2019, Syed is keen to get back in front of an audience.

“Super thrilled and excited about it,” he said.

Sydney Czop is captain of the high school’s 20-member dance team. Members are drawn from all grades. They’ll do performances featuring jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop dance. Routines, practised since the school year’s start, will be spread out during the evening.

Czop, a Grade 12 student, says team members have plenty to highlight during their performances.

“All the hard work that these girls have done throughout the year and their perseverance throughout COVID, just how great the team is and how much they love their dance,” she said.

Not having a regular gala that drew audiences to the Second Line East secondary school was “definitely hard” on team members, Czop adds.

“These girls have persevered and worked hard and they’re looking forward to showing the school and the community what we have done this year,” she said.

Olivia Bernard is working with Sophie Bernardo, Amelia DiCerbo and Nicholas Legacy to create the gala’s pamphlet to share with guests. The leaflet will highlight the different arts programs offered at St. Mary’s and more samples of student works.

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“I thought it would be a really great experience,” said Bernard of her decision to get involved. The Grade 12 student is developing an interest in photography based on classes she’s taken during the last two years.

“Creating a story with my photos would be the best part about photography for me,” said Bernard.

Samantha Lance graduated from St. Mary’s in 2017, but keeps helping organize the gala. She is a 2021 graduate of Ontario College of Art & Design University. Lance begins her master’s degree in curatorial studies at University of Toronto this fall. She will again help organize art shown at this year’s gala.

“I’m already impressed with the work,” said Lance. “It’ll be really interesting to see what the public has to say about them, as well.”

She appreciates the opportunity to stage student art in the school’s commons area.

“It’s just such a nice space to work with because there is so much room,” said Lance. “So much opportunity to display the artworks in just a different way.”

She is also evaluating work submitted from students in Grades 6 to 8 from Algoma District. Top three efforts will be featured at the gala and awarded cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50.

“They get to see and feel the audience’s reaction and I think that’s important,” said DiCerbo of St. Mary’s students participating in the art gala. “It’s a celebration of what they’ve achieved. That’s a beautiful part of the arts festival, as well, to stop and celebrate and acknowledge what the kids have created.”

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Anyone interested in buying student artwork can speak with DiCerbo at the gala. The night’s theme is Spring Back.

“To spring forward to something back,” said DiCerbo.

“I think everyone needs it,” said Lance of the gala. “Especially with COVID that had been going on, this is a nice kind of spring back.”

June 10

Trace Adkins with Terri Clark at Kewadin Casino in St. Ignace, Mich. Tickets on sale at tickets.kewadin.com.

June 10-12

Sault Theatre Workshop presents One-Act Festival at Studio Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Plays on June 10 (Two Actresses, The Beggar and the King, Stone’s Throw From the Heart) and June 11 (In One Door! Out the Other!, Bruised Orange, Without Whom). $30 one night, $40 two nights, $45 participant’s pass. Call Harry or Sandra Houston at 705-946-4081.

June 11-12

Studio Dance Arts Live at Sault Community Theatre Centre. Recreational and competitive at 1 p.m. And 4 p.m. Competitive showcase at 7 p.m. Tickets on sale at Community Theatre Box Office or online at www.saultctc.ca

June 18

Fresh Breath at Whisky Barrel;

Basset at Algoma Conservatory of Music’s The Loft. 7 p.m. $25. Tickets on sale at www.algomaconservatory.com;

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. 8 p.m. Tickets $25, $35, $45 on sale at tickets.kewadin.com

June 23

Algoma Conservatory of Music student recital at The Loft. 7 p.m. $10. Tickets on sale at www.algomaconservatory.com;

Stories Steeped in Stone presents Tracie Louttit (Spiritual Armour), Theresa Binda (Heartbeat of the Land) and Kristin DeAmorim (Current) at Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site. 6:30 p.m. $25. Tickets on sale at venue.

June 25

Darrin Rose’s Drinking in Public at Sault Community Theatre Centre. 8 p.m. Tickets on sale at Community Theatre Box Office or online at www.saultctc.ca

Submit listings to btkelly@postmedia.com by Wednesday noon.