Grade 9 student Riley Goldenbeld works on her tile for the mosaic mural at F.P. Walshe school.
F.P. Walshe school students embarked Friday on a mosaic mural project in honour of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
The Grade 6-12 students will each paint a scene on an individual tile that will combined to make up the mural to be displayed in the school’s hangar.
“We wanted to honour reconciliation,” art teacher Shanan Hunter said. “As an entire school we have not done a project like this.”
“We thought this would be a wonderful way to bring the whole school together and to create a work of art that is individual yet together as one.”
F.P. Walshe school teachers spent the week preparing students by showing videos related to truth and reconciliation, having students do their own research, and assigning reading.
The school’s elders also spoke to students about truth and reconciliation.
With that information, students sketched an image that they would paint on their individual tile.
The individual tiles will then be united to create a fall scene of the iconic Chief Mountain.
Chief Mountain was chosen for its prominent place in the southern Alberta landscape, as well as its significance to Indigenous people.
“We all have connections to Chief Mountain,” Hunter said.
The fall scene also incorporates an image of a tipi students erected at the base of Chief Mountain during a land camp.
When students complete their work, the more than 500 tiles will be combined in a three-panel mosaic mural that will fill an alcove in the hangar that is the entrance to the school.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Grade 9 student Alexi Lemke said of students doing research to come up with their own designs.
Riley Goldenbeld, who is also in Grade 9, also liked the idea of the entire school working on one project and the sense of togetherness it can create.
“I like that the whole school can work on it together to make something really nice,” added Lane Nelson, another Grade 9 student.
The Grade 9 students are optimistic the project will achieve the goal of bringing students together.
“I think so,” Lane Nelson said. “Because everybody contributes.”
Hunter said it will take some time for all the students to get their tiles painted.
It is anticipated the mosaic mural will be in place prior to the Christmas break.
Grade 9 student Riley Goldenbeld works on her tile for the mosaic mural at F.P. Walshe school.
