Keremeos continues to become a more vibrant and colourful community with another new mural 鈥� this one painted in collaboration with local students.
The Chief Woman Dancing mural is the latest unveiled among multiple pieces throughout the community.
The project was led by Indigenous artist Sharifah Marsden, who created the design for the mural and painted by eight local students.
"It was a design that I created about a fancy dancer and she's dancing a celebration," said Marsden. "What I do with my work, my way to give back is to work with young people and with emerging artists to teach them to do what I do and pass down my teachings and show them how it is possible to create something on a large scale.
The mural shows a celebration of family, culture and life, and the main dancer represents a matriarch of the community.
"It's rare to have a female chief so I wanted to uplift and empower women as well," said Marsden. "It's important to create public murals and by presenting images like this, it creates inclusion not just for the artists like myself, but also representation of all ages and all different cultures in public spaces."
Eight local students worked together with Marsden to paint the mural, including Oaker Edward, Sophia Michel-Louie, Presies Crane, Echo Squakin, Sienna Teasdale, Devyn Wallace, Luka Thomas-White and Lauren Parsons.
Marsden's son Hunter also helped with projecting the design onto the wall at night to outline it for painting.
The mural is located on the wall of the Similkameen Recreation Centre and the project was funded by the Regional District of the Okanagan Similkameen.
"It was inspiring to see local students contribute their creativity and enthusiasm to this meaningful work, and the RDOS is proud to see the Similkameen Rec Center continue to develop as an inclusive space for all," said Andy Foster, the RDOS' manager of recreation and facilities in Keremeos.
The Chief Woman Dancing is the latest mural in the community, joining the Stronger Together mural dedicated to honouring the victims of crime across from the Ambrosia building, the mural on the Pharmasave, on Benjai Thai, and further afield the inclusive mural on the Cawston Community Hall.
Marsden also worked on murals that were painted inside the Ambrosia building for the residents to enjoy.
Each of the pieces has made the community a brighter and more colourful place.
The Chief Woman Dancing is also likely only to be the first mural on the Rec Centre. Foster said that he and Marsden had been discussing further ideas she had had.
"We're really keen to take the next steps and continue the great partnership and rejuvenation of the Rec Centre," Foster said.
The facility is in the process of getting ready for large-scale upgrades in the future, with the main plan finalized in 2024. The budget and exact upgrades have not yet been approved by the RDOS board.
