Merkinch pupils' art is off the wall
COLOURFUL and vibrant artwork has brightened up an Inverness street, signalling a start to restoration work on the historic but neglected Merkinch Welfare Hall.
The hall, the only listed temperance hall in the Highlands, is being transformed in an ambitious £1.16 million project following a seven-year community-led campaign.
Once completed, the building will house Inverness Boxing Club on the ground floor while the upper floor will be used as a community support centre by Merkinch Partnership.
Inverness High School pupils, who live in Merkinch, took part in a Fit for the Future street art project to create 12 panels for installation on site hoardings for the duration of the work.
The first five represent the past and present including a depiction of the temperance movement, Catch-My-Pal Union, and conveying a message of people fighting the temptation of alcohol.
They will be replaced in August with the remaining seven panels representing the future. They depict a vibrant boxing club and feature an image of Inverness heavyweight boxer Gary Cornish.
Pupils taking part included Chantelle McLeod (14), she said:
"I think it will bring a lot of colour to the street. I think it looks amazing."
Fellow pupil Aidyn Jones, also 14, was also impressed with the results.
"I have really enjoyed doing it," he said.
"We have tried to show what the building used to look like."
Other pupils involved were Chloe Connell, Caitlin Mackintosh, James Newlands, Michael Shields-Stevenson, Louise Watt, Caitlin Hunter, Kuba Logocki, Jack Mackenzie and Calum Stewart.
Head teacher John Rutter described the finished panels as "brilliant".
He added: "Apart from the fact, it is a great bit of art, I think the project has really engaged them."
"They have loved finding out about the local community and working with people from lots of different backgrounds has been great for them."
The project was led by Marc Delaye, an Inverness-based freelance street artist, who has worked extensively with young people in schools and art organisations in France and Scotland.
He taught the young artists aerosol can control, to enable them to work freehand and learn stencil techniques.
"We promoted teamwork and collaboration between members in order to achieve a high standard for the final artwork – and aimed to show individual artwork within a coherent and colourful ensemble," he said.
Monika Maleszka-Ritchie, learning and engagement officer for the welfare hall project, said everyone was very proud of what the young artists had achieved.
"They have taken inspiration from both the past and the future of the hall and, in doing so, have shown both their own pride of place and their hopes and aspirations for the future," she said.
"Their amazing creative expression will contribute to daily life in Merkinch while the hall is undergoing restoration, bringing colour to what were dull hoardings."
