Turning what was once a landfill for the residents of the Kleefeld area, into a nature reserve has been years in the making but has only recently become an art exhibit.
The Tourond Creek Discovery Centre along Highway 52 west, has more than just the natural marsh and grasslands to explore. Turns out the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District has had some help in beautifying the park.
Russ Dirks from the Hanover School Division says, he had an idea several years ago, to decorate the shipping containers on the Tourond Creek Discovery Centre property near the parking lot. He asked several high school art instructors in the division to see if they would guide their students in painting murals on large wooden panels, that would then be attached to the containers by the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District staff.
Then once the SRRWD approved the idea, Dirks says together with the teachers and students they brainstormed ideas as to what should be painted on the panels. They came up with several themes that would represent the area. "Things like, painting the four ecosystems that are there or the waterscapes from that area or maybe an explorer theme around the settlers that came or the presence and life of indigenous people in the area or wildlife and nature.”
Dirks says the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District got materials donated, along with some funding for the school and the students began to do their research, got creative and started painting.
Initially, Dirks says their intention was to have 22 murals completed over time so that each of the shipping containers would be covered in murals. However, once the paintings started to fade as they were exposed to the elements, it was decided that the most worn panels would be taken down and prepared for new artists “to have new ideas presented on those boards, and then once again they would be put them up. Refreshing the murals over the years.”
He notes this was just done a few weeks ago when several newly painted panels, painted by Landmark Collegiate artists in the last school year, were put up. Dirks says, besides being four completely new pieces of art, “they've also gone through the process of making them a little bit more weather resistant. The Seine Rat Roseau River Watershed District staff put them up and so that's the delight we have now.”
He says, some schools worked in groups while other art teachers decided to assign an entire panel to one student, either way, they were thrilled to be working on this kind of project. “They knew that it was going to go into an art installation and so that meant a different level of planning. A different level of excitement around what each piece of art could be.”
Now, Dirks says, they are encouraging the students to bring their families and friends to the exhibit to enjoy their work. “I've heard that they have made connections there and felt really good about their art being in those.”
For people driving by the Tourond Creek Discovery Centre and who have appreciated the murals Dirks says, “It's a beautiful space. When we think of, even the transformation of that space from many years ago when it was a regional landfill to today with it having been taken over by nature. You will notice among other animals, deer tracks in the snow. Besides all the humans and their pets' tracks, there’s also small critters, birds and some larger predators that have been known to be around in that area.”
The centre, which officially opened in May 2012, is an outdoor environment that is open for anyone to explore. There are picnic tables and a shelter where up to 60 people can gather together and enjoy a picnic, or residents are welcome to climb the lookout tower. Wood for the lookout tower was donated by Grunthal Lumber and built by students at the SRSS. There are also wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities.
Fri, May 17, 10:30 AM
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