Over five hundred canvases painted by over 500 different people, a cross section of Cranbrook and area’s population, contributed to the making of this eight foot square mosaic mural to help celebrate Cranbrook’s diversity, Sam Steele Days and Canada’s 150th birthday.

This project funded by a grant to the Sam Steele Society was coordinated and managed by the members of Cranbrook Arts Society.

‘Locating the number of canvases we needed was the first challenge,” said Jenny Humphrey of Cranbrook Arts. “We pretty much saw all the dollar stores from here to Kelowna sold out of four-inch squares but thanks to local store owners, we received the help we needed in a short time frame.”

Canvases were distributed throughout School District No. 5, from Jaffray to Aquamnik, kindergarten to Grade 12 as well as to groups in the social service sector, businesses and to visitors to the Cranbrook Arts Gallery on Baker Street.

Over a period of six weeks, with the help of a roving art teacher in the elementary schools and art teachers in all junior high and high schools, students were given instruction in monochromatic painting. The predetermined number of squares in each colour were then collected and arranged into a favourite scene viewed so often from our community.

Many of the contributing artists dropped by during Sam Steele Days to find their piece of this tribute to our diverse community. The completed project will be hung in Western Financial Place for all to enjoy.

Cranbrook Arts Society

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