I Can Make Art Like Ron Noganosh is one of the videos in the National Film Board's I Can Make Art Like?Series. Ron Noganosh (1949- ) is an Ojibwe sculptor and installation artist from Magnetawan First Nation. He is well-known for his thought-provoking and often humorous installations created from everyday found objects such as hubcaps, bicycle wheels, computer parts, and feathers. In this video, Ron Noganosh visits a grade 6 class of Mohawk students at Kahnawake. The teacher has prepared the class for this artist in the classroom experience and when Ron arrives with boxes of cast-off junk the students begin their creations. Ron explains how he creates the assemblage sculptures and how he often uses his Ojibwe heritage to inspire the art pieces. Many of his works challenge the viewer to think about current issues such as environmental pollution and consumerism. The video show the process the students undertake as they begin their art creations. Ron explains that the piece may change during the process because the found objects may not actually work out the way the artist intended. The final pieces are presented in an art exhibition put on by the class for their parents. Each student's artwork has a title and artist statement. The film shows the students' pride in their accomplishments and their appreciation to the artist for sharing his gifts. This film is a valuable resource for students and teachers who are wary of tackling art topics. The unique Mohawk heritage of the students comes through in their finished pieces and their bilingualism in the classroom. A teacher's guide is included in the video jacket. This title is also available in DVD format.
