STAFF PHOTO/BILL ROBERTS
Artist Fran Wachna painted the snack bar at Sheppard’s Bush on Industrial Parkway in Aurora.
Aurora
September 30, 2008 10:21 AM
Amanda Persico, Staff Writer
Famous photographer and artist Christo organized community projects such as the bright-coloured decorated drapes along the path of Central Park in New York.
He draws the sketches, then asks the public to participate.
Fran Wachna, a retired teacher and vice-prinicpal, studied the works of Christo at the Ontario College of Art and Design.
She was inspired and brought Christo into a number of schools in Newmarket and Aurora, using artwork from students.
“Choirs get the concerts and athletes get the cups,” she said.
“This is a way for visual artists to leave their legacy. The kids feel like they’ve contributed.”
From painting 25 murals on school gym walls, Mrs. Wachna, a Richmond Hill resident, was asked to bring her colourful wall-sized paintings outdoors.
The snack bar at Sheppard’s Bush was in need of some colour.
“It was a big gray cement box,” Mrs. Wachna said.
“We used five gallons of primer to created a white blank canvass.”
Recruited by the Aurora Youth Soccer Club, Mrs. Wachna, with the help of club staff, sought out art submissions from soccer players.
“My son-in-law and granddaughter play in Aurora, so this was my volunteer contribution,” she said.
Mrs. Wachna projected the images onto the walls at dusk in June. She sketched the images then asked for volunteers to help paint. Each mural usually takes her a few weeks to complete. But the snack bar took a few months.
“I worked at dusk and through the rain,” she said.
“I worked on the side of the building in the shade.”
The front of the snack bar is a welcome to whoever enters Sheppard’s Bush, showcasing Aurora’s team spirit. The back, facing the fields, demonstrates brightly coloured soccer skills and techniques. Surrounding the pictures are talking bubbles with the words “Soccer rocks” and “Soccer is awesome”, sayings from teams who came over to help paint.
Using photographs, technical books and field diagrams, she helped change the perception of a blah building.
“As well as being coached, players can learn from the pictures, too,” she said.
“The children put the paint in, like a colouring book.”
As she painted, children played football behind her.
“The kids came over after the game all energized. That energized me, too,” Mrs. Wachna said.
“The kids are proud and it gives them an identity.”