Ecole St. Mark's School

February 16, 2001
Aylmer, Québec

Collaborative Mural Painting - Marcio Melo

As part of the Culture in Education Partnership - Artists in Schools Program of the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications, Marcio Melo guided a mural workshop at Ecole St. Mark's School in Aylmer, Quebec. This program brings artists into the schools to share their artistic activities with young people. This page outlines the project at Ecole St. Mark's School.

"The School is a Happy House"

Ecole St. Mark's School Muralists

Working on this project was a great experience. I was amazed by the results of the team work. When it was my time to sign the mural, I wrote beside my signature: "The school is a happy house". This is what the painting tells me and what my experience at St Mark's School came to be.

Marcio Melo, February 2001

The workshop plans and executes a monumental collaborative painting (mural) over three days. The scale of a mural fosters great freedom of expression and artistic accomplishment within the context of cooperation and compromise.

Prior to my arrival, the theme is decided according to local interests. Students research elements relating to the theme.

The first day looks at collaboration (boundaries - keeping or crossing them) and painting (balance, colour, composition), especially as it relates to monumental works (seen from a distance). Drawing exercises on a small scale practice collaboration. Exercises are analyzed. The mural is prepared.

The second day the mural is painted. Discussion continues on the elements of painting, collaboration and introduces the art of compromise (individual versus group identity).

The third day we discuss, "Is it finished?". After analysis of the elements of a monument, the group decides, and finishes if necessary.

Ecole St. Mark's School, Aylmer Quebec (grades 1-6)

The First Day - Drawing Collaboration