Gallery curator doubly honoured

In the past two months, Ray Dirks has found himself the recipient of two prestigious local awards.

Although the long-time curator of the Mennonite Heritage Centre Art Gallery and visual artist has been given mugs and pens in the past in recognition of his efforts, most recently he had a $10,000 Above and Beyond Award bestowed upon him. The Manitoba Foundation for the Arts gives out five monetary prizes every two years to honour "artists who go above and beyond their daily professions to use their art in ways that enhance the cultural and community life in our province, through volunteerism and outreach."

Dirks' work is all about raising profiles, but definitely not his own. His work and his passion are about promoting the work and lives of immigrants and those from developing countries. "This is what I am called to do and what I can do," says Dirks. "There is nothing wrong with art for art's sake, but my own art or the art we feature here is something that can be used for the greater good of the community."

Earlier this year, Dirks was recognized as a global ambassador to local school students, winning the 2008 TEAL (Teachers of English as an Additional Language) Award. Through the visual arts, he works to bring global perspectives to local people.

It all began when Dirks was invited to "help instill confidence" in English as an Additional Language (EAL) students at Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg's core in 2005. The experience led Dirks to invite students to the gallery and meet guest artists from Africa, who served as role models. "Eventually, we had a core group of EAL students come to the gallery on a regular basis after school to work on art-related projects," says Dirks. Today, he spends about three to four weeks each year in classrooms, adjusting his presentations to appeal to varying audiences and age groups.

His core message to kids remains consistent.

"I talk a lot about cultural and religious differences, differences that result from material wealth or lack thereof, and that we all have things we can learn from each other," he says. "Many differences are neither right nor wrong. We should get to know each other and understand our differences, rather than fear them."

Dirks is clearly making a positive impact, according to teachers, who consistently remind him that no one else is doing what he does. And since schools-teachers, administrators and students-are becoming increasingly multicultural and multi-faith, they need to hear what he is saying.

"Mainstream kids often say they never knew there were positive stories to tell about Africa," he notes, adding, "African and other refugees and newly arrived students say the presentations make them feel proud to be who they are."

The feedback he gets from students also affirms his message. Anuoluwapo Okunnu, a Nigerian-born Grade 6 student, wrote to Dirks after a presentation: "[A]s soon as you left, people started seeing things at a different angle and seeing each separate [African] country as both unique and different in its own way, instead of being one continent where everything was the same. I'm very glad you came because you opened a new window of understanding that we would likely not have ever known. I'm very happy you chose to do this. Thanks again from the bottom of my heart."

Dirks is modest about the commendations. "I'm just doing what I love to do and what I sincerely feel called to do. I'm not much good at anything else. But I can tell stories, take photographs, get close to people I stay with overseas, and come back here and try to make connections, create awareness and make kids feel good about themselves."

With files from Manitoba correspondent Evelyn Rempel Petkau.

[Author Affiliation]

BY DAN DYCK

Mennonite Church Canada

WINNIPEG