Like finding a masterpiece stashed in a closet, a Sandy Clark painting has come to life after many years in storage. Clark’s painting depicts a teacher and students bathed in sunlight in a field outside their school.

This mural/painting was commissioned by Marg and Al Johnson, prominent Chemainiacs and business owners. They owned the grocery store, which was the predecessor to the now defunct Chemainus Foods. They also opened Small Tall Treats, which served as a lunch place as well as an ice cream bar.

The shop was so named because Al was 6’5″ and Marg was barely 5′.They had befriended Sandy Clark, who had also painted other murals for the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society, and asked her to paint a small mural for Small Tall Treats.

The size of the mural was dictated by the size of the wall on which it was to be hung, and it graced Small Tall Treats for many years, even after the Yeagers bought the building from the Johnsons.

Al, who lived with Parkinson’s for 20 years, died first, then Marg followed shortly after. Their daughters donated the mural to the Society. The new owners of the business agreed that it could stay in the business. Then a new tenant took over and renovations began.

At this point the mural was put in storage until a decision regarding a new location could be made.

Now the mural has a new home in the boardroom of the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn, and the Society is asking you to enter the Name the Mural Contest and win a Tofino getaway.

To enter the contest, download the entry form (entry form, PDF 327KB) which contains complete instructions.

Chemainus is Canada’s Mural Capital™.