The St. Paul Visual Arts Centre has finished Phase One of a mural installation at its location, in an ongoing project that marks the centre’s past, while highlighting its present and looking forward to the future.
Phase One took about eight months of work, from planning to painting to installation, with many members contributing their time, expertise and hard work throughout the process. “This definitely was a team effort,” said Renee Fontaine, a member of the Visual Arts Centre.
On Oct. 24, members and friends installed four mural panels on the outdoor walls of the Visual Arts Centre. The mural is of St. Paul’s local landscape and is depicted through various media. The four panels that are completed are painted to look like drawing/pen and ink, photography, weaving and stained glass, noted Fontaine. The Visual Arts Centre’s founders were a group of weavers and potters so the mural honours the centre’s past, as well as showcases what's happening now at the centre, and looks forward to the future, she said.
There is still one more panel to be painted and installed on the east side over the door as well as four more to be painted and put up on the north side of the centre, facing the swimming pool. This is Phase Two, which will highlight painting, pottery, children's arts and crafts, and the centre plans to have these panels completed and installed by summer of 2011. In total, there will be nine panels wrapping around the building with the possibility for others to be added in the future.
“At 4 x 8 feet per panel, this is a big project that we hope will add colour and interest to our town and the Visual Arts Centre and what is offered here,” said Fontaine.
Fontaine also notes that the centre is always welcoming new members as well as anyone wanting to take courses or instruct them. People can now find the centre on Facebook; by searching for St. Paul Visual Arts Centre and hitting the “Like” button, people can get updates about upcoming events and courses, as well as check out photos of what's happening down at the centre. If people are interested in taking courses or teaching courses, they can contact the centre at 780-645-3071 or email [email protected].
