In St. Marys, public art so perfect you could eat off it - The London Free Press

Article content

ST. MARYS – This local town has made some colourful additions to the public picnic tables used to encourage outdoor dining this summer, but in many cases there’s more to them than meets the eye.

Article content

Local artist Bonnie Richardson’s table at Milt Dunnell Field was designed as a surprise for a couple of her grandkids after their family faced multiple COVID-19 infections. It’s based on the Eye Spy books Richardson has been reading to them for years and includes about 16 hidden things to find within its multi-coloured pattern.

“It was a tough month,” said Richardson, adding everyone in her family has recovered. “I just worked feverishly on it for a whole week. They helped me pick a design and, as I worked through it, I just thought, ‘this is for them.’”

Hidden in this picnic table designed and painted by St Marys artist Bonnie Richardson is an “I Spy” game she thought would cheer up her grandchildren after they recovered from COVID-19. Richardson is one of 10 local artists who took part in the town-wide project to add some colour to public picnic tables in St. Marys earlier this year. Chris Montanini/Stratford Beacon Herald

Not far from that one, Laura McAsh’s table doubles as a simple board game featuring a number of St. Marys landmarks.

“Whoever gets to the end first wins, but honestly it’s the fun you have along the way,” she said with a smile. “I really (wanted) to do something that’s not only nice to look at but something that you can interact with.”

Article content

Over in the Quarry’s picnic area, Missy Little’s table features a monkey named Gunther. She’s encouraging anyone who has lunch “on Gunther” to tag her on social media for a chance to win a prize.

There are 10 tables in total, six at the south end of Milt Dunnell Field, two near town hall and the cenotaph and two at the near the Quarry. St. Marys commissioned the public art with the help of a grant from the Annie and Isabelle Chesterfield Fund, held within the Stratford Perth Community Foundation.

“You just don’t know how much it lifted my heart to see people sitting on my table,” said Richardson, adding she enjoyed the community-building aspect of the project.

“It got us out of our heads, it got us out of our houses and it gave us another burst of hope, I really believe. It was something to do, (something) productive and bright to look forward to.”

cmontanini@postmedia.com

Adblock test (Why?)

In St. Marys, public art so perfect you could eat off it - The London Free Press
Read More