New Sudbury Centre shoppers get creative with collaborative painting

The New Sudbury Centre had an added splash of colour Saturday thanks to a community arts project from Myths and Mirrors. 

The non-profit community arts organization hosted a live community painting event that allowed anyone visiting the mall to try their hand at abstract art.

Mall visitors had access to a wide variety of acrylic paints and a number of homemade methods to spread the paint on two large boards.

“The magic of it is not knowing what is going to happen,” said Sarah King-Gold, a community artist with Myths and Mirrors.

King-Gold said the mall straddles the line between a private and public space, and was a good place to attract captive participants.

Clifton Skelliter helped organize the event through his creative agency, Launchpad.

“We know this is where Sudburians are going,” he said, referring to the New Sudbury Cetnre. “On an annual basis 7.5 million people walk through this mall.”

North Bay’s Ray Kazlauskas was the first to try his hand at the collaborative art project.

“I thought I would just fiddle around and get things going,” he said. “I enjoy artwork. It's a great release.”

Kazlauskas added he was happy to be at the right place at the right time. 

King-Gold said Myths and Mirrors will cut the two boards into four pieces and frame them. The framed paintings will be on display near the Walmart entrance.