WATCH ABOVE: A high school art project is stirring up controversy and conversation. Kendra Slugoski has more on the student’s painting and why it was censored.
EDMONTON – A painting on the wall of Onoway Junior-Senior High School depicting two young men kissing was covered up.
The mural, created by 16-year-old student Kaela Wilton, was painted about three weeks ago.
“Gay rights is something I feel strongly about,” says Wilton. “I just want the gay kids and maybe people in the closet to feel comfortable in our school, and it’s OK to come out and to be who you are.”
However, the Grade 11 student says it was on display for about one week when it was covered by a board.
“I felt kind of betrayed.”
“It was a huge board. It covered the whole painting. It was kind of shock.”
The school principal says the mural is no longer being covered by the board and that it was concealed for half a day last week. James Trodden says consultation with stakeholders will determine what happens to the painting now.
“As we move forward, we’re going to put up the display with the issues she’s raising and before we make any decisions, before we cover it up or move forward, we need to have a conversation with our stakeholders,” explained Trodden.
“This is an amazing young lady who is willing to show her bravery and have conversations that need to happen in schools. Schools learn… these are contemporary issues that need to be raised in school.”
Wilton said her school was “fully aware” what she was painting. She believes it wasn’t the school’s decision to cover it up, but that “someone above them” made the call.
“It was covered up because – if we can’t allow kids kissing in the hallway, then they can’t allow a mural of it,” shares the teenager, who admits she doesn’t fully believe that explanation.
“We see people kissing all the time. We’re in high school.”
Wilton says the school has been supportive and accepting, asking her to continue the conversation about the painting on the board in front of it.
“They’re trying to help me find a way to work through this,” she says.
“I’m not going to stop trying to get the board to come down, but I’m just trying to roll with the punches.”
“We talked about moving this forward,” says Trodden. “We talked to Kaela over a week ago… She’s been doing some work… talking about different issues: why is art important? What about censorship? What about public displays of affection? And what about the LGBTQ issues in school?”
Several Facebook groups have been created in support of the mural.
One person writes: “Please help me fight for this young person’s right to express something beautiful… Smaller communities like Onoway can take a really long time to change and grow. Let’s help them along! I was a teenager there and I know how hard it is to grow up there.”
For the 16-year-old artist, the support has been amazing.
“It’s overwhelming. It’s really touching. It really makes you see that there’s a lot of good out there too.”
Wilton says she’ll keep making art, no matter the outcome of this particular debate.
“I can just express myself through my art,” she says, “and create controversy and discussion and make people rethink things through art.”
“That’s pretty much what’s happening now.”
WATCH: Raw video of Grade 11 student Kaela Wilton talking about her mural and the decision to cover it up.
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