CVK
The Toronto Star reviews a new exhibit at the Harbourfront Centre by artist Michael Chambers. Titled Sandbox, the exhibit showcases photographs and writing from 15 mixed children, arguing that people shouldn’t be categorized into any one racial or cultural box:

In July, Chambers approached his niece, Nadine Chambers, with the idea that some people feel the need to categorize others.

Nadine, a Grade 6 teacher at Cornell Junior Public School, knew about this situation first-hand. Growing up — and even now — people constantly ask “where are you from?” she says. She’s from Montreal.

Chambers said that she has learned to deal with this situation with humour, but some of her students find it difficult. For example, Scanlan said, “I thought before it was embarrassing to be mixed.”

In December, Nadine Chambers decided to help her students with this issue.

“My original purpose for this project was to initiate discussion to build self-esteem,” she explained. “I wanted to show them that their words have worth.”