Every year, as the Southridge Gala approaches, there's a palpable buzz of excitement in the air. This exquisite event, known for its vibrant atmosphere, has become a beloved tradition within our Southridge community. While the gala showcases some truly exciting auction items, it's the "Kids' Art" auction that truly steals the show, reminding us of all of the boundless creativity and innocence of childhood.
What is “Kids’ Art”?
The "Kids' Art" auction is a unique feature of the Southridge Gala, designed to celebrate the creative talents of Southridge students while bringing the community together and raising funds to enrich our students’ learning experiences. Each year, classes contribute a piece of art to be displayed and auctioned off during gala. These artworks serve as snapshots of a moment in time, a precious keepsake that captures the essence of each child's creative spirit.
The History of “Kids’ Art” at Southridge
Jacquie Lougheed, one of Southridge’s founding families and mom to Alexander (Class of 2009), Lauren (Class of 2011), and Davis (Class of 2015), remembers hearing about Southridge before the school even opened up and saying to herself, “Where can we sign up!?” Once becoming a parent in 1996, she dove headfirst into the Southridge community, volunteering as a Class Parent, working on graduation events, and driving for field trips. Eventually, she also decided to join the gala committee.
“While we were planning for Southridge’s third gala, we were in a boardroom meeting, discussing new ideas for the event. Another parent brought up the idea of having the kids participate in art projects, then holding an auction for the parent community to bid on the unique pieces as a fundraiser. I thought to myself, ‘Wow, what a creative way to get the students’ involved!’”, recalls Jacquie. When asked, “Who wants to spearhead this?”, Jacquie immediately put her hand up and said, “I would love to take that on!”
And thus the “Kids’ Art” Auction at Southridge was born! The first kids’ art auction was held at the 2000 Southridge Gala. Since then, these coveted pieces of irreplaceable and priceless art have become some of the most highly sought-after items on auction at our annual gala.
The Artistic Process
Jacquie’s crafting background made her the perfect candidate to take on the “Kids’ Art” projects. She grew up in the Tsawwassen area, and in her teenage years took on a job at a local craft shop, teaching young children how to be creative and leading them through craft projects. As a parent at Southridge, she jumped at the chance to get involved with the students in an artistic way. Jacquie would bring the students out into the hall one-by-one during art time so they could contribute to the art piece their class was working on.
“When I started the projects, I was very involved with getting each child to be creative; Instead of creating just an easy and quick project, the kids were creating large, tangible pieces of art, that everyone could get excited about,” says Jacquie. “For me as a volunteer, being able to interact with the kids and seeing what their creative spirits were bringing to their drawings or paintings was the exciting part,” she recalls.
Students Making A Difference
The "Kids' Art" auction is not only cherished by parents but also a heartwarming experience for the young artists themselves. The students take immense pride in having their creations showcased at gala in front of all the parents. Jacquie’s favourite part was seeing the kids light up after explaining to them that they were creating these items and making a difference at their school.
“Watching the students get so excited that they were participating in something that was going to be showcased at gala was so special. They would take that excitement home and some of them would say to their parents ‘Hey mom, can you get the piece that my class painted? I really want that for our house!’”, recalls Jacquie. “You see all the kids’ expressions come out in their artwork, whether they’re a creative kid or a very technical child, it shows through. Seeing your child’s expression and differences through their art is so important,” says Jacquie. “You can see the respect the students have participating in something for the school. The kids know they’re contributing to the school in a meaningful way and watching them collaborate with their class on one item was really cool to see.”
A Snapshot in Time
For parents, these art pieces are more than just beautiful creations. They are treasured keepsakes – a testament to their child's growth and development. As children progress through their years at Southridge, parents can get their hands on these one-of-a-kind pieces of art that showcase their child's evolving skills, interests, and personality. It's like watching their childhood unfold in art form. Each piece tells a story – whether it's a kindergarten thumb print or a sixth-grader's intricate mosaic. Each piece of “Kids’ Art” captures the essence of who your child is in that moment in time, and it's truly heartwarming.
The Auction
Throughout the years, the hype surrounding "Kids Art" has evolved. “The Kindie bowl was a hot ticket item from the very first year, but as we continued, every grade piece became important, since everyone wanted to have at least one item from their child’s time at Southridge,” says Jacquie. “I personally had a couple of emotional experiences bidding for my children’s art pieces at gala, because it’s disappointing when you get outbid, but I always told myself, ‘We’ll try again next year!’”.
Jacquie’s advice to other parents is “Don’t wait until the Grade 12 year to start bidding, because the desire to have a piece catches on and it turns into a bit of a bidding war. If having a piece of Kids’ Art is important to you, don’t wait, and don’t miss out, get a piece right away, get that “trophy” for your home and for your child. Winning a piece of “Kids’ Art” is a significant memento to display in your home. If you get one piece throughout your time at Southridge, be super happy about it, and make sure to spread the love and the excitement with other families throughout your years bidding on “Kids’ Art” pieces”.
A Precious Gift
“Art is something that’s preserved and will mean something later in life, it’s a memory, and a snippet in time of your child’s life. Preserving your child’s past in this type of way is something I treasure,” says Jacquie, who has a craftroom full of her children’s art pieces, including a few special “Kids’ Art” items. “I look back at my time at Southridge, and all the firsts and new ideas, and seeing things like “Kids’ Art” evolve into what it is today is very special,” says Jacquie. “Kids’ Art” is a reminder that the magic of childhood can be captured in a single piece of art, and that is a truly precious gift.
The parents who secure "Kids' Art" at the Gala not only provide invaluable support to the school but also carry home a cherished piece of irreplaceable history. Here are some reflections from fortunate parents who proudly display "Kids' Art" pieces in their homes.
“Being a part of the Southridge community for some 25 years, we had the opportunity to be involved in creating and purchasing many pieces of Kids Art. Working with the kids in the classroom to create the pieces was amazing. The pride and enthusiasm they displayed for their little bit they added to the artwork was wonderful to be a part of. Their excitement of being part of the “big picture” to raise money for their school was also something they were proud of, and they took their art role very seriously.”– TANYCE WESTGARD | ALUMNI PARENT
“My children were over the moon thrilled when we “won” the bidding and were able to bring their masterpieces home!! A great fundraiser and the kids loved it!! It was a win-win!!”
– LORI QUINN | ALUMNI PARENT
“My husband and I were happy to have the winning bid on this piece created by the Grade 3 class in 2000. All students took part in the project with our son Matt taking on the globe. It is still a treasured piece of art in our home.”
– JAN SINITSIN | ALUMNI PARENT
“November 2000: It was pickup time the Friday afternoon before the Gala. Two little Grade 3 boys proudly guided their respective parents to view the class artwork that was created for the live auction. Both said to their parents, “You need to buy this tomorrow!” At the Gala the bidding for the artwork began. The Mom started bidding; the Dad outbid her. And so it went on and on. Previously, artwork sold for $100; however, the bidding continued to $3,000+. Oh, the laughter in the room egged on by the auction volunteers. “Who is he?” “Tell him to stand up.” “Tell her to stand up—I can’t see her.” “She is standing!” “Are you going to let him outbid you? He probably doesn’t even have kids at the school!” “She is relentless!”; he continues to top her last bid. More good-natured bantering by the auctioneer. Then, “SOLD!” What a memorable fun evening for all! Each tile was painted by a pair of students. It turns out the “Smiley Bumblebee” tile was painted by the same two little Grade 3 boys and to this day they remain best of friends as young adults. It truly is a priceless piece of artwork.”
– CATHY LIANG | ALUMNI PARENT
“We were privileged to have a few pieces (four for each one of the kids) that I still treasure to this day. They will be part of our family’s treasures for years to come. I must admit it was a little nerve racking to do the silent bidding to get the “original art work” of our kids class but my husband had mastered how to wait until the end and get it on the last bid before it closed down…it was a bit of a strategy he used, but after doing it for four kids we figured it out...” - TANYCE WESTGARD | ALUMNI PARENT “I was always the lowest bidder – very sad – for all three of my children. However, our youngest Milo McDonald was so sad that I was sad that he created the one just for me – not the class but the family on a plate. I still have this plate in my kitchen counter.”
– SHELLEY MCDONALD | ALUMNI PARENT/CURRENT PARENT
Contributed by Marissa May, Alumni Relations Coordinator
Adapted from Spirit Magazine - Fall 2023