Art brings activities together

RATHDRUM - It's the best of both worlds when it comes to youth activities.

On the skate park side of the Rathdrum Parks and Recreation building on Main Street, "Skate" in graffiti-style lettering will be painted this spring or summer.

On the Goodness Grows Community Garden side of the building, a bright whimsical garden mural will be painted.

Robbie O'Neill and Jaeden Lowe, both Lakeland High freshmen and the artists of those respective designs, were recently honored by Mayor Vic Holmes with a Mayor's Youth Excellence Award during a City Council meeting.

O'Neill's skate design and Lowe's garden scene won a student art contest that kicks off a collaborative mural project.

"The student artists will put the outlines on the building by projection and other local students will do the fill-in work - a painting-by-number format," said Lance Bridges, Rathdrum's parks and recreation director. "The next step will be to secure a mural professional to see what we have to do for background and types of paints. It's going to be an exciting process for the whole community to enjoy."

O'Neill is an avid skateboarder who practices his moves at the Rathdrum park during the summers.

"The (art) contest gave me the chance to show that I can draw graffiti," he said. "It's illegal on trains, but mine is legal."

Lowe said she tried to capture an uplifting garden with her painting. It shows flowers, frogs, butterflies and the sun.

"I wanted it to be bright and catch people's eyes," said Lowe, who tends a garden at her home. "I'm looking forward to seeing it on the building."

Community garden founders Diane Corsi and Fonda Stewart are assisting with the beautification project. The city is funding supplies for the effort.

"Our community will be encouraged to help and cheer the youth artists on as they make their painting come to life," Stewart said. "We can't wait to see the finished project this summer."