Celebrating community through the arts is a favourite subject for the students and staff at Sherwood Park Elementary, a diverse school located in the Seymour/Dollarton/Deep Cove area of North Vancouver. At a special ceremony last month, the school unveiled 'Celebrating Our Community', a colourful 6-panel mural created by the students under the direction of local artist Meghan Leeburn. Tsleil-Waututh students from the school blessed the mural with ceremonial cedar boughs and then joined their fellow students to perform a special song that they had composed to recognize this historic event!
The aim of the community mural project was to bring together students, school staff, parents and neighbours in the creation of a public art work that would beautify the school grounds and surrounding area. Support for the project came through the District of North Vancouver's Community Public Art program along with contributions from local businesses, volunteer groups, and proceeds from recycling.
The Arts Office administers two Community Public Art Programs for the District of North Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver respectively. This method of public art-making is characterized by community-based design that promotes dialogue and provides an opportunity for local residents to creatively express the unique aspects of their neighbourhoods.
For more information about North Vancouver's Public Art programs visit www.artsoffice.ca/public_art/
