Mural involving student artwork brings new color to Yarmouth town center

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YARMOUTH A colorful addition has been added to downtown Yarmouth through the town’s mural program.

“This mural was created by grade 8 students at Maple Grove Education Center as part of an ArtsSmarts project at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. The students were guided by the artist Danielle Mahood through the painting of the mural, ”reads a plaque on the site of the work. “The theme of the Octopus Garden was chosen both as a nod to the Yarmouth community’s long-standing connection to the sea, and a message of creating something beautiful wherever you are.”

On September 23, an official dedication of the mural took place. The mural was installed on the side of a property at the corner of Main and Brown streets.

Fifty-four students from two grade 8 art classes taught by Darcie Doucette at the Maple Grove Education Center participated in the project.

“The challenge for the students was considerable: to create a large mural for a place far from the school, without being able to visit the site of the mural or to show the classroom to the artist in person”, we read in a description of the town from Yarmouth’s Facebook page.

“Doucette and artist Danielle Mahood overcame this challenge by dividing the mural into panels. This allowed students from both classes to work in small groups on individual panels. The panels would then be combined to create the finished mural, ”the post read.

Mahood taught students how to take a small initial drawing and scale it to a large size while maintaining proportions and scale. She also guided the students through color theory, mixing paint and gently mixing colors.

The result of everyone’s effort is a bright, colorful and contemporary design inspired by the idea of ​​an octopus garden.

The Town of Yarmouth Façade Society’s Mural Grants Program has partnered with the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s ArtsSmarts program to provide a permanent home for the mural in downtown Yarmouth. Thanks went to property owner LG Trask Rentals for providing wall space for the mural.

“Working with Danielle Mahood and ArtsSmarts Nova Scotia was the highlight of our year. Their adaptability to complete this project in the midst of a pandemic allowed my students to participate in something (literally) bigger than them, ”said Doucette. “Having the opportunity to see my students come together and work on something that will impact our entire community has been so gratifying. “

“I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with these students and help them create such an impactful piece of art,” said Mahood. “It was a pleasure to see their enthusiasm for the project and their ability to apply the new techniques taught amazed me. I am more than happy with the end result and believe the students have learned new skills which they will find useful in the future.

For more information on the City of Yarmouth Wall Grants program, visit: https://www.townofyarmouth.ca/mural-grant-program.html