Markham artists unveil eighth collaborative mosaic painting
The Markham Group of Artists (MGA) unveiled their eighth collaborative mosaic painting for the community at One Thomson Court, a local seniors’ residence. This stunning artwork continues the group’s tradition of using art to bring the community together while honouring the region’s rich history.
Linda Ruscio, who has served as project manager and art director for these mosaics over the past 10 years, shared insights into the initiative’s history and intricate creation process.
Since the first mosaic was installed in 2014 at Cornell Library, the group has completed seven additional projects, each celebrating community landmarks: Markhaven Seniors Home (2015), Thornhill Library (2016), Richmond Hill Welcome Centre Immigrant Services (2017), Morgan Pool (2020), Larry Tod Place (2022), Tony Wong Place (2023) and One Thomson Court (2024).
Each mosaic is a collaborative effort where individual paintings by multiple artists are combined into a cohesive and unifying image. The past four projects have also incorporated designs reflecting the historical significance of the land where the artwork is installed.
The mosaic for the seniors’ residence at One Thomson Court captures the essence of the Hwy 7 and Main Street Markham area, weaving together stories of the past through vintage imagery.
The full-scale design was created by collaging images from vintage photographs of Speight Wagon Works, circa the 1860s. The artwork features workers, factory owners, and their families in a wagon in front of the factory.
The top left corner depicts an aerial view of Hwy 7 and Main Street Markham from the 1960s. Grace Church, a white church in the image, once stood in the area before being relocated.
The full-scale image was divided into 32 square sections, each painted by individual artists onto wood panels. The artists met for a fitting session to align the panels, then returned to their homes to make the final adjustments before converging to assemble the finished mosaic. They rose to the challenge of combining the unique styles of individual artists into a coherent big picture.
Some artists painted additional elements within their panel. The viewer can discover these hidden gems when having a closer look. While artists followed a template for shapes and colours, they infused their unique styles, aligning their work seamlessly with adjacent panels. Hidden gems, such as depicting the Reesor residence (AKA, the wedding cake house) on a woman’s blouse, offer viewers delightful surprises upon closer inspection.
Ruscio expressed gratitude for the artists’ dedication:
“For the artists, the pleasure was two-fold: joy in creating the work and joy in sharing it with the community.”
She also thanked the city’s Markham Celebrates fund and Thomson Court for their support, adding:
“On behalf of the Markham Group of Artists, thank you for being here to celebrate the power of art in preserving history and inspiring the future. We hope this mural brings joy to all who see it and serves as a vibrant symbol of Markham’s story.”
Founded in 1981, the MGA is a collective of visual artists dedicated to artistic development, community building, and fostering social connections. Open to artists of all skill levels—from hobbyists to professionals—the group continues to enrich Markham through creative collaborations.
Photo: Local dignitaries celebrate the latest MGA mosiac painting with the talented group of artists.