Prince Albert based teacher and artist Mackenzie Dupre was commisioned to paint this interactive mural featured at Saskatoon's Nutrien Wonderhub. (submitted photo/Mackenzie Dupre)

By Brady Bateman

Interactive Art

Local artist featured at Nutrien Wonderhub

Jul 2, 2019 | 1:59 PM

A Prince Albert based educator and artist has had her work featured at the national level, after designing an interactive painting for Saskatoon’s Nutrien Wonderhub.

Mackenzie Dupre, a teacher at Prince Albert’s Princess Margaret school, and a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) was commissioned to design a large mural featuring a variety of Canadian wildlife, which was then given the “Wonderhub touch”, with the installation of several creative interactive elements.

Dupre has co-written and illustrated six Cree language books, which are featured at schools across the province. She noted the inspiration for her mural was drawn from her favourite book she helped to create – The Wolves Howl at the Moon.

“I’ve always been a painter; I’ve painted my entire life. I’ve also been lucky enough to write and illustrate Cree children’s books, I’ve always believed that it’s so important to have that Indigenous content,” Dupre said.

“Someone with the Wonderhub came into contact with one of my books. They said they loved my animals and how I paint them, and they asked me to be a part of this amazing project. They wanted it to be Northern Saskatchewan animals,” she said.

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P.A. based teacher Mackenzie Dupre said she has always been a painter, and was lucky enough to be involved with the creation of a mural showcased at Saskatoon’s Nutrien Wonderhub. (Submitted photo/Mackenzie Dupre)

All together the piece consists of 12 individual paintings, which were then put together to form the life-sized mural – with the additional interactive elements. Dupre said she did all of the painting out of her own home.

“They added a bunch of interactive stuff to the painting to make it come to life. Some of the animals make sound, some spin, a little bear pops out of a Saskatoon berry bush, and if you open up the dam a little beaver comes out,” Dupre said.

“They (Wonderhub) came up with the interactive pieces. I painted each of the parts individually, and then I shipped them off to New York and they kind of took it from there.”

The piece is featured in an area designed to cater to toddlers, with a number of sensory-based activities. Dupre noted the interactive elements bring life to the piece, and converts it from art, to a learning experience.

“It brings a whole other side to art. Rather than just something you sit back and look at, this you can touch and feel and move and that is so important for the kids,” Dupre added.

“The whole experience was just fantastic.”

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Brady.bateman@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TheDigitalBirdy