A tide of creativity has washed ashore at Arts and Culture Colwood's Goldfinch Arts Centre.
Inspired by the wildlife and natural beauty of Esquimalt Lagoon, the underwater plants and animals of the lagoon have been brought to life for a vibrant new mural.
Funded by the West Shore Arts Council, the project brought together Vancouver Island artist Jason Colville and three West Shore teenagers - Atharva Upadhyay, Ruby Le and Aki McCullagh - each a budding artist.
Now, mounted underneath the front deck of the art centre, three dark silhouettes of fish can be seen swimming through blue-green waters, surrounded by aquatic plants in bold shades of teal, turquoise and red-orange.
The project was also an opportunity for the three teenagers to learn new skills from Colville, a well-known graffiti and digital artist.
"They learned a lot about using spray paint as a painting tool," said Arts & Culture Colwood treasurer Alannah McPhail, who helped coordinate the project.
"All of the kids have an art practice of their own and Aki and Ruby have artistic aspirations for their futures. From my point of view, it was wonderful getting to know them and watch them contribute to the mural."
For Arts and Culture Colwood, the mural marks more than a facelift - it's a tentative step towards offering youth programs at the centre.
While no formal youth program exists yet, president Kathleen Schmalz said the project shows what is possible when young people are given a chance to engage with the arts.
"We would really welcome another mural project next summer, and then we'll just see how we can grow," said Schmalz, who noted the organization will need to explore funding options to offer free programs.
As for the mural itself, Schmalz can't praise it enough.
"Oh, I love it, it looks way more like an arts centre now," she said. "And I hope that it means more people will walk by to see it - because it just really is so dramatic."
The mural will bring an extra splash of colour to the society's upcoming Lagoon Arts and Culture Festival taking place Friday, Sept. 12, from 5 p.m. to 7.p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 5.pm.
Across the two days, folks can enjoy live music, an artisan market, art exhibits and family-friendly activities.
The Goldfinch Art Centre is located at 170 Goldfinch Rd., and is open Thursdays to Sundays, 12 to 4 p.m.
For more information and to keep up-to-date with all the Arts and Culture Colwood Society news, visit the website: www.artsandculturecolwood.ca.