This summer, there is an exciting opportunity for any burgeoning artists among the Museum campers to participate in a public art project. We are commemorating two significant anniversaries this year:
- 150 years ago (1873) the first brick Railway Station was built in Collingwood.
- 25 years ago (1998) our Museum, a replica of the Victorian style Railway Station, was built on its current site
In partnership with the Town, Collingwood Museum, and Streetcar Developments, Future Day artists Rebecca, Sandra, and Eden are producing a 100 foot long mural along Streetcar Development’s construction fence on Huron Street, across the road from the museum. This mural will be compiled digitally using archival photographs, original artwork, and contributions from children in museum camps. We plan to show the history of our town from a fun and creative perspective in this mural.
Throughout the mural there are areas for art created by the children to be included.
Hen and Chicken Island
First a bit of related history about our town. It was previously known as Hurontario Mills, and as Hen and Chicken Harbour (after the one large and four small islands In the Bay), until being renamed in 1854 in honour of Admiral Lord Cuthbert Collingwood.
This has inspired a fun parade of hens and chicks, some of them in period costume, along the bottom of the mural. Colouring book style outlines will be provided for the children to paint in. We are also interested in any young artists who would like to draw and colour their own trains and animals. We would love it if the kids could sign their names within the illustrations. Their creations will be digitally collaged into the mural.
Here are a few sketches of some of our hens and chicks which could be along the timeline:
