Following my experience as a volunteer artist in the Vancouver schools I arranged volunteer art projects in Thailand and Cambodia.  My goal was to bring art into communities where children had limited access to art materials and instruction.   I included presentations in art history, highlighting important "master" artists over the centuries.  I incorporated colour wheel and colour mixing lessons which can be engaging and fun. 

 

My first step was to establish "Artists Without Borders."

 

I organized three projects in Thailand and Cambodia.  Below are highlights from my time in Siem Reap, Cambodia.  It surprised me that the children were amazed by the Canadian art, such as Emily Carr and the Group of Seven.  They were especially fascinated by Tom Thomson, his paintings, and stories of his camping and canoeing life in Algonquin Park. 

 

!'m hopeful the children gained as much from this experience as I did.  It showed me that art is truly a way to remove the boundaries which often separate us.  This ultimately fosters a greater understanding between peoples by fostering friendship and peace.  The expression of art is a universal human need that can be traced back many thousands of years, for example the by 40,000 year old cave art found in many locations around the world.