Crestwood School's community mural hangs near the Medicine Hat Mall food court. --NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Approximately 320 students from Crestwood School came together to create a community mural now housed within Medicine Hat Mall.
Located near the food court, the mural is part of a new community art initiative launched by the mall, for which Crestwood School was the first participant.
“A representative from Medicine Hat Mall contacted the school and said this is a new initiative that they want to start, and they had chosen Crestwood School as a pilot,” Mary Tulip, Crestwood School’s family school liaison worker, told the News.
Tulip says the mall provided dimensions of the mural, as well as a theme which was to depict something meaningful or inspiring, but placed no other parameters on the project.
“They basically said, ‘Go forth and see what you can create with your students,'” said Tulip. “And I think that’s why the finished product is so beautiful and amazing, because there was a lot of freedom given. Each classroom was able to choose something that was meaningful to them and be as creative as they wanted.”
As well as giving students an opportunity to let their creativity shine, Tulip feels the mural also benefitted students in that it provided them a sense of fellowship with classmates and schoolmates.
“This project helped students and staff feel engaged and connected to themselves as well as to each other,” said Tulip. “And art has actual chemical benefits for the brain; it reduces stress hormones, it brings joy, relaxation, inspiration, it’s really engaging for everybody involved. And being creative, especially through art, it helps to boost confidence … Art is so good for your mental health overall.”
Tulip says many students were filled with that sense of accomplishment for taking part in the mural’s creation.
Danika Clarke a Grade 2 student at the school was proud of the colourful smiley faces she added to the mural and recently visited the mall with her family to show them.
“I wanted them to see it,” said Clarke. “And they were really impressed.”
