Hayden Genier and Justine Quesnel
Heritage Elementary students have brightened a wall of their school in Huntingdon with a new mural featuring nocturnal animals.
Over three days in January, the Grade 5 and 6 classes worked with professional artist Adele Reeves to conceptualize, design, and produce the mural, which brought together student ideas and imagination.
The mural represents the night view of the Chateauguay River and nocturnal animals including a raccoon, groundhog, skunk, bobcat, and a mole. It also includes a “planetary parade” in the skyline, which represents the rare alignment of the planets that will happen this month.
Last year, students painted a mural featuring a daytime landscape including the river and wildlife that also appear in the new mural, such as a bullfrog, fish, deer, bunnies, and an owl.
Like last year, all the students contributed to the mural by adding trees and details to the scene being painted. The Grade 5 and 6 students then added the texture and extra details to the mural.
“I was trying to get the kids to tell stories about living near the river, if they knew of any animals, and what it is that they see,” said Reeves, who participated in the project as part of an ArtistsInspire grant through the English Language Arts Network (ELAN).
“They contribute their ideas, and I help them along,” Reeves explained. “It is very fast paced,” she added, noting she loves working with kids and painting on large canvases like walls.
“We worked in small groups of four or five, which was good,” said another Grade 6 student. “Everyone definitely had time to have fun, and we were not rushed. Adele had time to give to everyone. We were thankful for her visit and her help.”
Reeves brought all the paints and materials needed, including over one hundred paintbrushes. Students learned new painting techniques using different paintbrushes and sponges and other materials.
“This was our last year to make our mark on the school,” said another Grade 6 student. “We are proud of our mural and would like to share it with other people who come to the school.”
* This article was written by Grade 6 students at Heritage Elementary School as part of a partnership between The Gleaner and the New Frontiers School Board.