At the tip of my finger
In collaboration with
Blending visual arts, literature and bilingualism, French at the Tip of My Fingers / L’anglais au bout de mes doigts explores the evocative power of words. The project spotlights the special kind of creative expression that emanates from Francophone and Angophone students working together on a shared artistic creation. This project was made possible thanks to the support of Canadian Heritage. It gathered French Immersion students from the Edward Murphy School in Montréal and Birchwood Elementary in Saint-Lazare, with students in the intensive English program at Sainte-Bernadette-Soubirous School in Montréal et the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette School in Pincourt. Together, these students gave free rein to their imaginations to discover the things that brough them together and empowered them! The author Liana Cusmano supported students in the collaborative creation of collages and poems on themes of connection and self-esteem!
This book brings together the poems and collages made by the project’s young participants in the form of a truly bilingual display, which, without a doubt, will fill its readers with optimism and youthful enthusiasm. Addressing themes of self-esteem and increasing bilingualism through arts like writing and collaging is not only possible, but fun!
Discover the exposition inspired by the students texts and artworks that will be featured at the International Literary Festival Blue metropolis
From April 24th to 26th (HOTEL10, 10 rue Sherbrooke ouest, Montreal)
Here’s a little sneak peak …
Liana Cusmano
Born and raised in Montreal/Tiohtià:ke, Liana Cusmano, aka Luca and BiCurious George, is a writer, poet, spoken word artist, filmmaker and arts educator. They are the 2018, 2019 and 2023 Montreal Slam Champion, runner up in the 2019 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship, and a participant in the 2019 Spoken Word Residency Program at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Liana has presented their work in English, French, and Italian across North America, Europe, and Asia.
They wrote the screenplay for the short film La femme finale, screened at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival; wrote and directed the award-winning Matters of Great Unimportance, screened at the 2019 Blue Metropolis Festival; and created « Peuple, Poésie, Politique » in the television documentary series Vivre ensemble (2021). They are Fiction Editor at the literary journal Carte blanche and editor-at-large at Accenti Magazine. Their first novel, Catch & Release (2022), was published by Guernica Editions. They were a 2022 finalist for the QWF Spoken Word Prize.
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
Montreal
École primaire Sainte-Bernadette-Soubirous
Située dans le très agréable arrondissement Rosemont – La Petite – Patrie, l’école Sainte – Bernadette – Soubirous est entourée d’un immense espace vert, le parc Sainte-Bernadette. Elle dispose d’une grande cour extérieure et d’un parc-école, où les enfants peuvent se dégourdir pendant les récréations, par exemple. Elle propose à ses quelque 660 élèves du préscolaire et du primaire des projets stimulants et enrichissants. Très dynamiques, ses enseignants privilégient une pédagogie active. Pourquoi ? Pour maintenir le goût d’apprendre et de découvrir des enfants. Le mot « collaboration », c’est notre leitmotiv. Les valeurs que nous priorisons sont la curiosité, l’autonomie, la persévérance, la politesse et, bien sûr, le plaisir !
Edward Murphy Elementary School
Edward Murphy School is part of the English Montreal School Board, situated in Mercier-Ouest which is a French working class sector of South-East Montreal adjacent to Anjou, St. Leonard and Tetreaultville.
Our school population brings with them a richness of culture and a diversity that reflects the modern face of Canada. We are an inclusive school and consider our students with special needs as an enriching component of the Edward Murphy experience.
Edward Murphy has an English Core Program and a French Immersion Program from K-6. We have a junior and senior Speech and Language Development Class and a junior ASD class for students with autism.
Montérégie
Notre-Dame-de-Lorette School
Notre-Dame-de-Lorette School stands out for its dedicated staff, engaged students, and exciting activities.
Birchwood Elementary School
Birchwood is a school that aims to provide a positive and stimulating French environment conducive to active learning and personal development. Our vision: curious learners, independent leaders & caring global citizens.
