Children's artwork will spruce up fence surrounding humane society

A little toddler's hand painting provided the finishing touches for a Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery summer camp project that will soon adorn the east side fence outside the local humane society.
Bret Redstone, museum and art gallery summer program co-ordinator, told the Times-Herald the seven large animals designed and painted by campgoers were supposed to be depictions of the types of animals one might find in the local shelter.
However, he said the young children (whose imaginations couldn't be contained) were unwilling to simply design cats and dogs, so they ended up making a whale, panda, rabbit, mouse and lion as well - seven animals in total.
"(The humane society) became a sort of magical place where all kinds of animals live," he said. Children at the camp did all the work, except for cutting the designs out on large pieces of wood. Over eight weeks, Redstone said about 200 children and teenagers from various camps, ages three to19, worked on the project.
Christie Saas, Moose Jaw Humane Society fundraising co-ordinator, said the local animal shelter does not currently adopt whales, but she appreciates the imagination that child artists might come up with beyond conventional pets.
Saas said the humane society wanted the museum and art gallery to do something with the fence, because a lot of people who drive by the shelter aren't aware the building is actually an animal shelter.
"We wanted to do something to draw attention to that location."
On Wednesday, the camp for children under age five put hand paint prints on the "thank you" boards, which will accompany the animals and list the sponsors' names.
Redstone said the wood still needs special treatment before the designs are mounted next to the animal shelter. Saas said the designs will hopefully go up this week, with an official unveiling to take place at a date yet to be determined.
Christy Schweiger, museum and art gallery education co-ordinator, said the organization conducts other community partnership programs during the year.
For example, several youth recently participated in the "H'art and Soul" project, in which students spent part of the day at the YMCA and the other part at the museum and art gallery. The students made tiles for a mural that will be housed in the YMCA family centre.
According to the education co-ordinator, the museum and art gallery is always looking for other community projects in which artistic youth might participate.

Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-12652