Yarrow community school students with adults from Chilliwack Society for Community Living have embarked on a unique art project to create inspired decorations for the Sunshine Community Garden.
“We are making art from junk," says Yarrow student Nik Thiessen.
They'll be turning old water barrels into lovely rain barrels for the garden, some bug-designed planters from recycled garbage cans, and wooden butterflies to brighten up a chain link fence. They might even make windsocks from fabric and old lamp shades, or wind chimes from kitchen wares.
The collaborative project running this week at the school involves repurposing a range of recyclables into artistic pieces for the community garden located behind the Mathieson Centre in Sardis.
The program they're calling 'Community Builders' is about producing the embellished, green garden items on a practical level, but it's also about forging relationships and building community.
"There will be several art stations set up at the school," said Dayle Thiessen of CSCL.
About 10 kids will be rotating through the stations, with about half a dozen developmentally challenged adults, who receive support from CSCL programs.
The program is underway mornings, in the courtyard behind Yarrow Community School, until July 19. On Friday afternoon, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. they're planning an event at the garden to set up the new pieces.
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