- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

Math is everywhere in our world, all around us. That is the concept the artists of École secondaire catholique Saint-Dominique-Savio developed in the mural they have just created with local artist Billy Goodkat.

Art teacher Éloïse Guindon explained, "My students are eager to not only further develop their artistic ability but to be also be directly involved in Owen Sound's rich art community. We want to not only demonstrate the importance of artistic student development but also how our school can be a force in the community."

The students came up with the concept, Goodkat said, “and they really did all the work.”

Many of the concepts of numeracy are revealed in the details of the piece. Puzzle pieces make up the hazy pastel sky in which numbers and symbols float, and the children play on a clock face with Roman numerals, like a playground roundabout. The whole image rests on a field of fantastical coloured blades of grass.

The students were rightfully proud of their work and the finished product. Madison Trumble, élève de la 6e année (grade 6 student), said "On a travaillé vraiment fort et ça a fini par être pas mal bon!"

Goodkat said that the design allowed each student to work at their own level with the spraypaint process. He is a natural mentor with genuine respect for the students' work, and it is clearly mutual. Olivier Lafleur, élève de la 5e année (grade 5 student) said “C'était tellement génial parce qu'on a travaillé avec un des artistes qui a fait beaucoup de projets à Owen Sound et cette murale ira dans mon école!”
The mural will be hung in the primary wing of the school.

Adèle Gagnon, élève de la 12e année (grade 12 student) found the spraypaint medium suprising - "C'est incroyable de pouvoir créer une murale entière avec tant de détails en seulement quelques jours. La peinture aérosol emmène tant de liberté et de possibilité!"

You never know, Goodkat mused - One of them might become a spraypaint artist.

École secondaire catholique Saint-Dominique-Savio is a French language school in Owen Sound. The students interacted with their teacher entirely in French, and spoke with me and with the artist in English.