As we often discover when scholarships are established in commemoration of a teacher or student, stories surface about the powerful connections made between students and staff. Bob Zawerbny was one of those people who was widely adored by students and staff alike. Bob, or Mr. Z as he was affectionally known, was an icon at Northern. Not only did he teach at Northern for more than 35 five years, he was also a Northern student who studied with such renowned artists and educators as Ethel Curry, Percy Gardiner and John Bennett.
Bob saw art as a vehicle for discovering new ways of seeing the world. And he felt art should extend beyond the class room. To build up their portfolios, senior students, every year, spent a week at the Toronto Zoo sketching and painting exotic animals. Field trips to Toronto's art galleries and museums led to excursions to New York and Disney World. In New York, Bob and his students toured museums and galleries, as well as the studios of Mad Magazine and Marvel Comics. Year after year, Art students turned out incredible artistic work. The sheer excellence is hard to separate from Bob's enthusiasm.
So it is that in appreciation of the profound impact Bob had on his life & career, Jason Herriott NSS’87 has established the Robert Zawerbny Memorial Award in Illustration and Design. The award will be given annually to a graduating student in Design and Illustration whose superior artistic talent and excellent portfolio has inspired other students to strive for success. On behalf of Northern students, we are grateful for your generosity, Jason.
And now – more about Bob's legacy. We caught up with Steve McNaughton, Bob's long-time colleague and curriculum leader in Northern's Art Program. Steve was in a special position to witness Bob's journey to instill a love of the arts in his students. Steve and a number of students share with us their impressions of a man who teaches us how to be in the world.
Bob saw art as a vehicle for discovering new ways of seeing the world. And he felt art should extend beyond the class room. To build up their portfolios, senior students, every year, spent a week at the Toronto Zoo sketching and painting exotic animals. Field trips to Toronto's art galleries and museums led to excursions to New York and Disney World. In New York, Bob and his students toured museums and galleries, as well as the studios of Mad Magazine and Marvel Comics. Year after year, Art students turned out incredible artistic work. The sheer excellence is hard to separate from Bob's enthusiasm.
So it is that in appreciation of the profound impact Bob had on his life & career, Jason Herriott NSS’87 has established the Robert Zawerbny Memorial Award in Illustration and Design. The award will be given annually to a graduating student in Design and Illustration whose superior artistic talent and excellent portfolio has inspired other students to strive for success. On behalf of Northern students, we are grateful for your generosity, Jason.
And now – more about Bob's legacy. We caught up with Steve McNaughton, Bob's long-time colleague and curriculum leader in Northern's Art Program. Steve was in a special position to witness Bob's journey to instill a love of the arts in his students. Steve and a number of students share with us their impressions of a man who teaches us how to be in the world.
