Robert Aller at work
Photograph
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
Think
Why do you think Aller kept samples of the students’ artwork?
Do
Find the locations where Aller taught on the following map: www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/residential-schools-in-canada-interactive-map
Do
Find the location of the residential school closest to your school: www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/residential-schools-in-canada-interactive-map
Details
Date 1969-1970
Materials - Photograph
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- Robert Aller was an artist and teacher trained by Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer.
- He taught art classes at the Alberni Indian Residential School.
- He encouraged his students to paint creatively and to focus on their own memories of places and people from their communities.
- He kept samples of his students’ work, and after he died in 2008, his family donated these materials to the University of Victoria.
In this photo, artist and teacher Robert Aller examines artworks, likely from his students. Aller, trained by Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer, taught extracurricular art classes at the Alberni Indian Residential School in Port Alberni, B.C., the Mackay Indian Residential School in Dauphin, Manitoba, and in Indigenous communities on Manitoulin Island in Ontario.
Aller encouraged self-expression and creativity, encouraging students to paint from memories of home and community.
He kept samples of his students’ art, and upon his death in 2008, many of these works were donated to the University of Victoria.
In this photo, artist and teacher Robert Aller examines artworks, likely from his students. Aller, originally from Dauphin, Manitoba, studied art under Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer. Like Lismer, Aller was a passionate advocate for the importance of children’s art education throughout his professional career. Aller taught extracurricular art classes at the Alberni Indian Residential School in Port Alberni, B.C., the Mackay Indian Residential School in Dauphin, Manitoba, and in Indigenous communities on Manitoulin Island, Ontario.
Aller’s teaching style embraced and encouraged students’ creativity and memories; he worked to teach students how to paint, not what to paint. Rejecting formality, he often spread paint and paper out on the floor for his students to work more freely. His students often painted natural scenery from their home communities, or memories of activities done with family or community.
He kept samples of his students’ paintings throughout his career, and, after his death in 2008, his estate donated these materials to the University of Victoria.
- Robert Aller was an artist and teacher trained by Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer.
- He taught art classes at the Alberni Indian Residential School.
- He encouraged his students to paint creatively and to focus on their own memories of places and people from their communities.
- He kept samples of his students’ work, and after he died in 2008, his family donated these materials to the University of Victoria.
In this photo, artist and teacher Robert Aller examines artworks, likely from his students. Aller, trained by Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer, taught extracurricular art classes at the Alberni Indian Residential School in Port Alberni, B.C., the Mackay Indian Residential School in Dauphin, Manitoba, and in Indigenous communities on Manitoulin Island in Ontario.
Aller encouraged self-expression and creativity, encouraging students to paint from memories of home and community.
He kept samples of his students’ art, and upon his death in 2008, many of these works were donated to the University of Victoria.
In this photo, artist and teacher Robert Aller examines artworks, likely from his students. Aller, originally from Dauphin, Manitoba, studied art under Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer. Like Lismer, Aller was a passionate advocate for the importance of children’s art education throughout his professional career. Aller taught extracurricular art classes at the Alberni Indian Residential School in Port Alberni, B.C., the Mackay Indian Residential School in Dauphin, Manitoba, and in Indigenous communities on Manitoulin Island, Ontario.
Aller’s teaching style embraced and encouraged students’ creativity and memories; he worked to teach students how to paint, not what to paint. Rejecting formality, he often spread paint and paper out on the floor for his students to work more freely. His students often painted natural scenery from their home communities, or memories of activities done with family or community.
He kept samples of his students’ paintings throughout his career, and, after his death in 2008, his estate donated these materials to the University of Victoria.
Summary
- Robert Aller was an artist and teacher trained by Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer.
- He taught art classes at the Alberni Indian Residential School.
- He encouraged his students to paint creatively and to focus on their own memories of places and people from their communities.
- He kept samples of his students’ work, and after he died in 2008, his family donated these materials to the University of Victoria.
Essential
In this photo, artist and teacher Robert Aller examines artworks, likely from his students. Aller, trained by Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer, taught extracurricular art classes at the Alberni Indian Residential School in Port Alberni, B.C., the Mackay Indian Residential School in Dauphin, Manitoba, and in Indigenous communities on Manitoulin Island in Ontario.
Aller encouraged self-expression and creativity, encouraging students to paint from memories of home and community.
He kept samples of his students’ art, and upon his death in 2008, many of these works were donated to the University of Victoria.
In-Depth
In this photo, artist and teacher Robert Aller examines artworks, likely from his students. Aller, originally from Dauphin, Manitoba, studied art under Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer. Like Lismer, Aller was a passionate advocate for the importance of children’s art education throughout his professional career. Aller taught extracurricular art classes at the Alberni Indian Residential School in Port Alberni, B.C., the Mackay Indian Residential School in Dauphin, Manitoba, and in Indigenous communities on Manitoulin Island, Ontario.
Aller’s teaching style embraced and encouraged students’ creativity and memories; he worked to teach students how to paint, not what to paint. Rejecting formality, he often spread paint and paper out on the floor for his students to work more freely. His students often painted natural scenery from their home communities, or memories of activities done with family or community.
He kept samples of his students’ paintings throughout his career, and, after his death in 2008, his estate donated these materials to the University of Victoria.