
The astounding Masterpiece is finished! Fifteen children from three different Lyceum kindergarten classes collaborated on the twelve-foot long mural of Olympic Season British Columbia during the Spring 2010 term, and it now hangs on the Lyceum wall for all posterity.
Materials and Preparation
How was it made? Our kindergarden artists created their own collage paper, using bright acrylic paint and paint-texturing tools. (Fig. 1). They donned smocks and rose to the Herculean task of painting the entire background of their mural (Fig. 2) and left a few haphazard blue footprints on the Lyceum floor . They drew and cut out unique details for the mural from their collage paper, and used double-sided tape to connect their details to their hand-painted background. Finally, the children painted the finished collage with Mod Podge to seal and strengthen the surface.
Collaborative Methods
The first collaborative challenge was to find ways for the three classes to communicate and work together, despite their physical separation. At the beginning of the spring term, all three kindergarten classes held independent mural planning discussions, and then drew a large, detailed, draft to represent their ideas (Fig. 3). Each class also wrote letters to each other (Fig. 4) with the help of a teacher/scribe, explaining their ideas, and asking for feedback. Letters and notes were written back and forth between classes throughout the early phase of the project.
Hot topics the children worked out through letter-writing included the question of background colour, for which votes were taken (green vs. blue). The community arrived at a happy compromise (a blue/green ratio of 4 to 5, based on voting numbers). With great respect and enthusiasm, the children also negotiated and brainstormed together over details like cars, houses, and (Fig. 7-8) hot-air balloons (the final brilliant brainstorm yielded one “dark rainbow colour” balloon for boys and one “regular rainbow color” balloon for girls).
The children always engaged with the mural first thing, upon arrival — how could they resist? Each week, new details had appeared in their absence! Very exciting.
A Rescue Operation (Fig. 9)
When Rachel, Lucas, and Dylan (afternoon class) first saw Charlotte’s (morning class) swimmer out alone in the middle of the ocean, they decided to launch an urgent rescue operation. Their solution of a Red Cross rescue helicopter (piloted by Monkey) lets down a long rope so that the stranded swimmer can always climb up to safety.
The Red Roofs of Whistler (Fig. 10)
Tobin, observing that “all the roofs in Whistler are red,” made many of our mountain rooftops red too. Katie pointed out that one of the roofs was actually yellow. Laura explained, “That’s because it’s the Mayor’s house.”
Can someone explain to James what The Masterpiece is?
A Masterpiece! A mural. –Charlotte
We painted it all. –Hogan
Have you done all of the work on that piece by yourselves?
No! –Group
Who else worked on it?)
The Afternoon class. –Charlotte
And the Afterschool class. –Sylvie and Will
On June 17th, the classes finally signed their names to many copies of the extra-large photograph of the Masterpiece, so each family could receive a copy signed by all of the fabulous contributing artists.
The kids often (and still, for those who are coming here for summer camps) admire their own work, standing in front of it and talking amongst themselves about their favourite parts.
But the rocks, the rocks! –Katie (exclaiming in admiration)
That Masterpiece, I want to go into that Masterpiece. –Eric
Because it looks so good! –Harry
That whole masterpiece picture is my home. –Eric
One piece is yours and one is mine. –Harry
The final detail was a blue turtle, added by Lucas on June 17th (Fig. 12).
Post-Masterpiece Update
Tobin’s family has sent their Masterpiece photograph to a card company to be made into cards. Another family shared that they have had their photograph copied, laminated, and made into placemats. Several other families have told us that they have had their photographs framed.
Rachel (who brought her mom in for a special viewing of the Masterpiece) explained to us that the little paper children made by a previous kindergarten year, who still hang on the wall above the Masterpiece, now have new homes “in our world below” inside the Masterpiece.
The Masterpiece and all of its fabulous inhabitants now live on the central Lyceum wall, and all are invited to come visit.
Our Masterpiece Artists
The Morning Class: Charlotte, Hogan, James, Katie, Laura, Sylvie, Tobin, Will
The Noon Class: Dylan, Lucas, Rachel, Uma
The Afterschool Class: Eric, Harry, Sabrina