Local artist and recent Strathmore High School graduate Justine McEwing has always had a huge passion for art and history, and she's now using her talents to bring a new mural to the Strathmore Legion.
"I am truly honored to be the artist that is doing this for the Legion and I really hope that people realize how much they do for the community and how much our community does for each other," she said.
McEwing explained the mural's theme will be "passing the torch of remembrance," as she said the younger generations may have never had the chance to meet veterans from WWI and WWII, but it's important to always remember the soldiers that fought to keep Canada free.
"I'm trying to highlight all of what the veterans did and then also what the Legion is doing and then how we can pass all of that together to the younger generation."
This isn't McEwing's first experience with the Legion, as she also won a poster contest in the past highlighting women's contributions and efforts during WWII. Regarding the mural, McEwing is volunteering her time and doing the entire project for free, as her love of art and interest in history drove to her take on this project.
Justine McEwing in 2021 with her poster honouring women's efforts in WWII"I personally don't like to sell my art because it gives me such a reward on its own of giving other people art. I love to hand-make cards, I love to paint, I love to show other people my talent and it's my passion, that's how I grew up. It's just something so special and to be able to share that with our community and with the Legion is incredible."
While McEwing is doing this for free, she still needs supplies and help covering some of the costs. Home Hardware stepped up in a huge way and donated all the paint, but McEwing said any other donations would be a huge help for other supplies and also a free community barbecue she and the Legion hope to host when they unveil the mural.
"Even if they have a couple of paint brushes laying around the house, or if they want to give like $5 or something like that, that would be more than appreciated."
McEwing has mural painting experience so she knows what to expect, but said this is the largest project she's taken on so far. She hopes to be finished by the beginning of August.
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