Nature, Innovation & Imagination
Inspired by the artworks of the Group of 7 and Sir Fredrick Banting.
Discover how a simple conversation with a child living with Type 1 diabetes led to the creation of Preston's Big Game, a children's book that uses hockey as a metaphor to support understanding and awareness of diabetes.
Scroll down to watch the full Artist Introduction video.
Preston received the Ontario Jr. Citizenship award for promoting diabetes awareness through his story, 'Preston's Big Game'.
A Canadian journey through Art, Story and Invention.
An Interactive Canadian Artwork Exhibit inspired by the paintings and inventiveness of the Group of 7 and Sir Fredrick Banting.
- Become inspired by Canadian Landscape Paintings
- Learn about the Group of 7, Banting's discovery of Insulin and the works of Aaron Bengall
EXHIBITION PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
this exhibition explores the connections between creativity, nature, science, and lifelong learning
- View Canadian nature-inspired artworks & children's books
- Learn about Canadian History in visual Arts and Science
- Create your own Arris Album miniature art exhibit
- Participate in the Canadian Imagination Reading Challenge
- Family guided tours and demonstration
- Colouring, arts and crafts and more
- Contribute through expression and community connection
For Galleries, Libraries, Museums, Schools, Educational & Host Partners:
Gain Access to:
- The 114 Boreal Hotelier Open Edition Collection
- Digital copies of the following books for optional inclusion in your collection based imagination reading challenge:
- Feel the Beat (English)
- Feel the Beat II (English)
- Preston's Big Game (English & French Available)
- The Big Button Saves the Day (English/Spanish)
- The Adventures of Edward (English / Spanish)
- Cucumber Cannonball (English)
- And many more...
Additional programing materials
- TAKE HOME CANADA Colouring sheets (with art reference). Available in full Letter, half Letter and in Arris Album Panel formats.
- 2.25 button/pin pressing templates.
- Sticker printing templates.
Customization for your organization
- Colouring sheet, button/pin, sticker, fine art print, apparel & product design customization available upon request
- Size variations in a variety of mediums available upon request
- Customized Arris Album Cut & Build Exhibit workbooks & programming workshop activity kits
For Inquiries:
- To host and lease the Nature, Innovation & Imagination exhibit
- To book an Artist Talk
- To run an Arris Album Cut & Build Exhibit Workshop
- To customize products & materials
- To discuss collaboration and partnership opportunities
Please e-mail: info@takehomecanada.com
Nature, Innovation & Imagination
The creation of Preston's Big Game
At the age of 11, Preston's advocacy for diabetes education lead to the creation of his first book!
Take a look behind the scenes.
The book 'Preston's Big Game' (2014), inspired the creation of a follow up dual language (English & Spanish) diabetes awareness book called: 'The Big Button Saves The Day: El gran botón salva el día' (2019). The book is available to purchase on Amazon.
As a child, during his down time away from screens, Aaron was determined to learn 3 things:
To lean how to spin a basketball on his finger
To learn how to play the guitar
To learn how to paint like members of the Group of 7 and Tom Thomson
Aaron was also exposed to the works of the Group of 7 & Tom Thomson at a young age at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, and is a life long member of the art gallery establishment.
His passion for visual art and music led to the creation of his first children's book, Feel the beat, while he was in high school.
He has since written many songs and imaginative children's stories. Some of these stories are community collaboratives. One example of which is Preston's Big Game, a project initiated by an 11 year old who became inspired after attending a presentation on Feel the beat.
Preston and his family introduced Aaron to the Banting house in London Ontario, where he learnt about Sir Fredrick Banting's many inventions, including the conceptualizing of a scientific process that led to a treatment for diabetes.
There, Aaron also learnt that Banting enjoyed painting with members of the Group of 7, such as A.Y. Jackson and that Banting dreamed of spending his retirement painting. This connection between Banting and the Group of 7 was extremely inspirational.
As a life-long learner, Aaron has studied Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Anthropology, Management and Applied Engineering.
He has also created multiple inventions including Arris Album a modular panel connecting structural display system, that allows for the creation of customizable structures and forms.
Many creative and innovative people in the world today often face resistance in the pursuit of positive worldly contributions. Nature, Innovation & Imagination is about learning of historic and current innovators and making artistic and scientific connections.
Nature, Innovation & Imagination is about collaborating and creating positive contributions to the word.
Nature, Innovation & Imagination is about realizing that we are all a living story and have the potential to persevere and achieve at a higher level then we realize.
Nature Innovation & Imagination is about realizing that you can make it happen!