Seven tables subject to vandalism at Mission Secondary School are getting a makeover.
One of the school’s art classes was tasked with revamping the concrete tables outside the school with a new look.
Art teacher Lindsay Von Dyk says it’s been a quick turnaround. Students had a little over a month to work on a project Von Dyk says could’ve been year-long.
“We decided that a mosaic was the longest-lasting, best way to go about it,” Von Dyk said.
The school decided on the “seven sacred teachings” as a theme for the seven tables, with one each for love, respect, humility, truth, honesty, wisdom, and courage.
“With the long tables in particular, there was some vandalism on them,” Von Dyk said. “So this is our way of bringing some beauty to the school and making a mark on those tables.”
The Art Studio class for grades 11 and 12 did a sketch proposal and received feedback before they got the go-ahead from administration.
Tiles were donated by community members, businesses and through some of Von Dyk’s connections. Von Dyk taught them how to treat and lay the tile, but the students brought the creativity.
Grade 12 student Elsie Wallace said learning how to cut tiles for the project required patience. However, Wallace says the project was a good experience.
“To have something left here for this year I think is really important because this graduating year got really impacted by COVID,” Wallace said. “So [it’s good] to have a piece to show that we are still here, making it through.”
After the students finished cutting the tiles, they began putting them down despite the poor weather.All seven tables were completed by June 29.
“It just shows the dedication of the students that they’re willing to come in. And they know they don’t have to come in, they know that I was going to give them the full marks anyway,” Von Dyk said.
The Art Studio class starts in January and runs through June, with the focus of the class divided into drawing, painting and mosaics.
The students had approximately an hour per day to work on the project. They were able to get a large portion completed on June 22, with sunny skies where everybody come out to mortar the tables.
“They’ve really enjoyed it. They got excited about it. I’m impressed with their endurance,” Von Dyk said of the students. “I’m really impressed with how they stuck to it because they’ve been looking at tiles for at least a month now.”
Von Dyk says the tables will also be a part of the new secondary school when it is built.
@dillon_white
dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
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