The paintings — a group of children, a big sailboat in front of the Bedford Yacht Club, 'the public gardens, a small rocky island in the fog — are based on her work.

And while normally she'd be upset at such blatant copies of her lovingly painted local scenes, this rainy morning Duggan is ecstatic.

She's one of eight artists, who are being "interpreted" by students at the private P-6 school for a unique project, the second annual Art Gala Glitz.

Each class focuses on the work of a local painter with students re-interpreting their favourite pieces. The finished works are mounted and hung in the classrooms.

The classrooms are then decorated to match the work. Sean Hanlon's Grade 3 class used Debbie MacDonald's detailed bird paintings as a starting point. His classroom will be transformed into a bird sanctuary, complete with handmade nests and live budgies.

And tonight, parents and friends will come for an unveiling, wandering through each "gallery" sipping wine.

It's the second year for the gala. Last year, the children focused on the Impressionists. This year it's local artists like Duggan.

"I'm thrilled the children are looking at my art and doing their own interpretations," she says. "Each piece is so different. They see everything in a different light and that's what art is all about."

One of her favourite works is a variation on her joyous party scene, Kool-Aid and Cookies.

"I'm impressed with their ability. They didn't put all the feet at the same level. They've got the perspective right."

After much thought, eight year-old Kalee Brown chose to work on MacDonald's blue-grey heron "because I thought it would be the easiest."

"But it was really hard. It looked easy because of the shapes but it wasn't," she says, noting she was happy to meet Duggan, who discussed the use of colour at a school assembly.

Her sister, Eryn, 5, used pastels and paint to create a white, blue and yellow calla lily, based on a vibrant work by Erika Proctor. "We're going to put real plants in and make a garden in our classroom," says the Primary student.

Six-year-old Matthew Haley did a painting of Peggys Cove based on a lighthouse by Vincent Walsh.

Last year, he did a floral Monet-style work, but he liked doing the lighthouse and Peggys Cove better. "I liked doing the rocks, they were easy as cake."

Other featured artists are: Robin Rovers, Donna Maguire, Sylvia Ireland and Al Bergin.

Ben Mayhew, 11, interpreted two Bergin works, a silhouette of a wolf and A Walk In The Woods.

"I liked A Walk In The Woods because it was bright and dark at the same time. Dark at the background, light in the foreground, nice and colourful."

© 2002 Halifax Herald. The Chronicle Herald: Making an impression (2002)



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