“Do we have a crowbar?” : this question came from a Millarville schoolgirl as she helped take apart a chainsaw last month. Over 60 girls and boys from several grades came into our little Millarville Community Library over several days to take apart a variety of machines in the Deconstruction Lab that our inveterate librarian Natasha Grusendorf organized. Three big boxes held parts from non-functioning items as disparate as sewing machines and CD players. These parts will be used in an art class in our adjoining Millarville Community School and the art will be displayed on our library shelves and walls later this spring.
Our library walls have been displaying a series of local art work this year and the latest has a unique story. When a Calgary artist from the Leighton Centre, Norma Barsness, shared her paintings of local places, the grade Twos came to examine them. Their teacher Stephanie Boucher provided each student a little canvas and paints with which to paint their own ideas of mountains and meadows inspired by their “field trip” to the library. When they sent a photo of their paintings which had been hung in the library, Norma came out to view them and brought her paints and easel. The conversation was lively as she painted a picture from their suggestions. It was “magic” as her blank canvas became a tree on a hillside with a sunset. One child’s comment summed up their reaction: “I just think it’s awesome.” Then they named the painting as “The Forest of Life, Light ,and Magic.” And the children will carry Norma’s words “ Each piece of art is unique” as they express themselves once more with acrylics and brushes on canvas. Our library walls will change again when their paintings are completed.
