Just before spring break, Grade 9 art students worked together to create a mural for Como Lake Gardens, a YWCA community housing facility for low-income women.
I connected with the YWCA last summer, in the hopes they would have a facility that would benefit from a happy and positive mural. I was referred to their Como Lake Gardens facility in Coquitlam where the counselling staff focuses on teaching the 30 women residing there, skills such as how to be more assertive, and positive conflict resolution. Como Lake also offers its residents a community kitchen, a laundry room, a park, and a play area for the 40 children currently living there.
The Como Lake building is new and very modern, but it wasn’t very welcoming to the children. This is where our Yorkies came in. They spent months brainstorming, designing, planning, and voting for the design that would transform the main wall at the entrance of the building, which is adjacent to the common play area. Their challenge was to create a mural that would inspire a sense of community and would also be appealing to young children.
The result was amazing! With many decisions to be made from start to finish, our Grade 9 girls embraced the project with a tremendous level of enthusiasm and maturity. I was there only to guide!
In only one day, they worked tirelessly to complete the mural. The result is a beautiful mural that is bright, happy, and something they are deservedly proud of. The feedback we have since received from the residents and staff has been extremely positive; they are overjoyed, and amazed at how the mural changed the energy of the space. I am so very proud of the commitment and creativity of our girls!
Watch the time lapse video of the girls completing the mural.
Angela Jurgensen
Sr. Art Teacher
