When Misha Smart describes the newest mural that hangs in the library of the James Bay Community School, her eyes light up.
The colourful artwork features three panels and depicts a number of class activities, such as students hatching chicks or butterflies, the schoolB次元官网网址檚 recycling program, and horse-drawn carriages, which often pass by the school on Oswego Street and students playing hockey and basketball. It also depicts students playing on the beach, which is representative of the schoolB次元官网网址檚 coastal kindergarten program.
The newly-created mural represents the schoolB次元官网网址檚 values and the important things that make it unique, from the perspective of teachers, staff and students.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just those little things that the kids really identify with and take ownership over,B次元官网网址� said Smart, a Fairfield artist and kindergarten teacher at the school who helped facilitate the project.
A professional artist for the past eight years, Smart was approached by the schoolB次元官网网址檚 Parent Advisory Committee in September to create a complement to the schoolB次元官网网址檚 existing mural. That iconic piece features the James Bay and downtown communities, including the legislature, Clover Point and Emily Carr House.
Smart has done similar collaborations with other area elementary schools including View Royal, Victoria West and Strawberry Vale.
Over the past 10 months, she collaborated with students, staff, and teachers at James Bay to identify themes representing the schoolB次元官网网址檚 values. Smart then transformed those values into a visual representation and students from kindergarten to Grade 5 used acrylics to paint the mural.
B次元官网网址淭hey always remember what piece of the mural they painted, how they contributed,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey really take a lot of pride in it, because itB次元官网网址檚 about their school and their community B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 what makes it so special.B次元官网网址�
Smart added that students donB次元官网网址檛 receive many fine arts opportunities such as this on a larger scale.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 inspiring to see them so proud of what theyB次元官网网址檝e done and really taking the next step. You see them asking their families to do something similar. They realize their capacity [for working] in the large scale and working with different materials. ItB次元官网网址檚 exciting to see them to engaged in this art project that is so important to our school,B次元官网网址� she said.
