The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor A smiling monkey whisks by on a tire swing. A dragon spreads its wings atop a cliff. Giant leaves protrude from a hollowed-out tree. A new mural has added colourful radiance to the revamped children's area at the Flin Flon Public Library. 'The main theme behind the mural is imagination, because reading and playing is a way for children to explore their imaginations,' says library administrator Cindy McLean. Spread across parts of three walls, the mural depicts a bright daytime scene with lush green hills off in the distance. In the corner, the mural shows a hollowed-out tree complete with two large artificial leaves that jut out from the wall. At the tree's base is a bookshelf that doubles as a sitting area for youngsters and their parents to enjoy the wonders of literature. The monkey and dragon are among the more prominent characters within the mural, the work of local artist Linda Sonnenberg Jackson. 'It was a journey for me,' says Sonnenberg Jackson. 'I had never journeyed in that direction before, doing that kind of animated painting.' While Sonnenberg Jackson did the painting, the mural represents a vision articulated by both McLean and her colleague, library clerk Aimee Best. 'Cindy was the director and I was like the instrument,' says Sonnenberg Jackson. 'It's difficult to explain, but it's almost like we had become in sync somehow. I could sense what she wanted because she was so enthusiastic and excited about what she wanted that I could not help but see what she wanted.' 60 hours Throughout January, Sonnenberg Jackson spent about 60 hours completing the mural. It was officially unveiled last week at a ceremony that included children and guest readers such as Mayor George Fontaine. McLean says the previous mural in the children's area, featuring a few Disney characters, had been on the wall for decades. It was time for a fresh look, so the library applied, and received, a $3,900 grant from Flin Flon Neighbourhood Revitalization Corp. 'I wanted a place where children would love to come, so that was the driving force behind the redesign,' says McLean. And the mural is just one part of that redesign. There is also a new Lego imagination station and a plush dragon cushion. Nearby is the pre-teen and teen reading area, which includes a table topped with a collage of superhero images. It's next to the library's new selection of graphic novels, including hardcover versions of Batman, Captain America and other comic book titles. Looking around at the updated space, McLean is clearly impressed. 'I think it turned out amazing,' she says. As for Sonnenberg Jackson, she is no stranger to murals. Some of her past works can be found at the Personal Care Home, Rack's Billiards and the Salvation Army.
