About
The young students of the early years of primary school had the chance to participate in a collective mural project located in one of the large staircases at Saint-Benoît Elementary School. During the brainstorming session on the theme of mutual aid, concepts such as sharing, caring, being attentive, teamwork, and friendship emerged. Concepts related to mutual aid in nature, including plants and water, were also mentioned.
Artist and illustrator Charlotte Parent used these ideas to imagine a garden of mutual aid where the children work together to take care of nature — and each other. She proposed scenes where the children cultivate and harvest, and another where they help each other climb on flowers to illustrate the importance of teamwork. A group of migrating geese depicts another example of mutual aid in nature — an image that can inspire children. The preschool entrance, leading to the classrooms for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), is now playful and calming. Bulle, a therapy dog that accompanies the students, was frequently mentioned during the brainstorming, and Charlotte Parent included him in the garden scene.
The presence of blue in the stairwell serves as a reminder of Autism Awareness Month, aiming to raise awareness while also having calming properties. Several students on the autism spectrum participated in the artistic workshops and the creation of the mural.
Guest artist : Charlotte Parent
Art educator : Julien Sicre
Assistant : Beatrice Bloomfield
