Uplifting and inspiring art

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a mural painted by a mixed media artist and art teacher and her students, offers an uplifting and inspiring experience that can be enjoyed while maintaining social distance.

The mural, themed “Dey Comin’ Junkanoo Time’, is the fulfilment of a proposal, submitted by Aquinas College art teacher Abby Smith, to the 2020 Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Competition Mural Call, which won in the Open Category.

Smith, along with Aquinas College 12th grade Advanced Placement (AP) students, transformed a stretch of wall alongside the road that connects John F. Kennedy (JFK) Drive to West Bay Street, behind which lies the Stapledon School, into a work of art.

The mural was inspired by Smith’s desire to highlight the need for inclusion in the school system and in day-to-day activities of every child, including those with disabilities. The artist also wanted to raise awareness about mental disabilities in children and foster an appreciation for the dedication of teachers at the Stapledon School who assist those with mental disabilities, particularly children.

Smith’s art tends to focus on reflection, looking at the past, learning from it and finding solutions for the future.

Her art is bright, engaging and promotes collective creativity or as Abby puts it “the coming together of minds”.

Smith and her students spent long days “breathing life” into the art teacher’s vision. And the involvement of her students was a key part of her proposal.

“The project is important because I deem art as being fundamental as it is truly a language in which we express ourselves to one another,” said Smith. “Being restricted in movement and interaction means we must find new ways to communicate with one another. What better way to do that than through art? I chose the wall as my living chalkboard and the community as my classroom.”

It was important to her that her students learn about giving back to their community via public art.

Most important to Abby was that her students were given the opportunity to work alongside special needs students and to understand the importance of adapting the concept of inclusivity in every aspect of their lives.

“Partnering with special needs students and connecting their art to the real world will help these students to fill the expectations of the profile of a Catholic school graduate, which references appreciating diversity and respecting creative expressions of interest, talents and experiences,” said Smith.

The educator is an activist for public art. She hopes to see and be at the forefront of creating more murals throughout the country, which tell the stories of communities, engaging the people and inspiring them to shape their own uplifting and positive story.

Daily, as Smith and her students worked on the colorful and inspiring piece, the power of public art she said was nowhere more evidenced than by the number of drivers that honked their horns in a show of support, or pulled to the side of the road to admire the wall.

“The true power of public art is its ability to preserve our Bahamian heritage in a form that is not only visually appealing but is meaningful, impactful and lasting.” The Dey Comin’ Junkanoo Mural project is slated for completion in early January 2021.

Claudette Rolle, director of Catholic education, congratulated Smith on the win and said they were excited that she had included Aquinas College students as well as students from Stapledon School to be a part of the work that she said should bring joy and cheer to those people as they drive along the street.

“Through their participation in the experience, the students will have a greater appreciation for the visual art and its connection to real life. More importantly, the message that the mural depicts of Junkanoo as an all-inclusive unifying event helps the students to appreciate the benefit of working together to accomplish a goal,” said Rolle.

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