After schools were issued some tiles to be painted with an agriculture theme for a Fort la Reine Museum feature, COVID-19 hit and not as many students could get involved as anticipated.

Museum executive director Madison Connolly outlines the project for the Allis-Chalmers warehouse building.

"Originally, when we launched the community mural project this past spring, we had created and gave out 600 6-by-6 inch MDF tiles for the community mural project to be included as a mosaic in the wall," says Connolly. "And that was right before schools closed down in the spring. And so, when they reopened again, teachers had noticed that they didn't have as many students that they had usually in the years previous. So, we did get quite a few tiles back that were blank. "

She notes that means that folks that are still interested in doing the project, but were late in the spring, can still get in on it. She notes they have about 50 available for painting.

"If anyone does want to do the project and paint a scene that has to do with agriculture in our community," notes Connolly, "then they are welcome to come to the museum and pick up a couple of tiles at the main reception desk and paint away."

She notes the mural was made to commemorate the memory of Gilbert Vust, the big agricultural Allis-Chalmers person in our community. Connolly says the museum decided to do this for him and the theme for the mural tiles is all about agriculture in our community.

Connolly comments on the deadline.

"It is a little bit loose because we know that this year has been a little bit unorthodox. So, our loose deadline is September 30th to have all of the completed tiles returned to us," notes Connolly. "That way, we can still have enough time before it gets too cold to install them in the Allis-Chalmers building."

She explains if you paint a tile for the museum, your mark will be at the museum forever, or until the building itself degrades.

"It is a fairly large foyer wall," says Connolly. "When you walk into the big Allis-Chalmers warehouse, there's a little foyer there and the first wall you see there is a 6-foot-by-4-foot painted mural of Gilbert Vust on his favourite agricultural equipment painted by Mike Blume. On the border surrounding the mural, there's quite a bit of wall left, so that's where we're going to be installing all of the MDF tiles like a mosaic border."

Connolly adds if anyone has tiles that they collected in the spring, she'd like to remind you to return them to the museum before September 30th so they can install them. She notes their hours have been updated a little bit this autumn. They're open Friday, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 to 3.

"Or, if you can't make it at that time to pick up or drop off tiles," Connolly continues, "send me an email or give the museum a call and we can set up an appointment."