In 2009, for Unity’s centennial, the town commissioned a large mural depicting its history and culture. The Welters were assisted by the local high school’s senior art class.
Pat has taught some airbrushing classes to local students. He and Ruth have also worked with the school to launch a series of gallery-style shows specifically to highlight art students’ work. The first was in 1999 and there has been a show each year since.
“The art teacher has these kids doing incredible stuff that would otherwise end up in the garbage,” he says. “They need to see the value in what they’re doing. So, we support them with this show. We produce labels for their work and put up banners and street signs. The first year, we had 300 people walk through. It blew the kids and their teacher away and really changed their perspective of the value of art. Now some of those kids have gone on to careers in art.”
For the second annual show, Pat even brought in animation artists from Disney to judge the students’ work and show them where they could improve.
“If we could do that sort of thing more for young people, it would show them what they can accomplish in art as a career,” he says.
The Welters have even passed signmaking along to their own children.
“We have two daughters, Heidi and Alicia, and they are both artistic,” says Ruth. “They have helped us paint murals over the years. Heidi is now an administrative assistant at a hospital, but with three young children of her own, she is working casual hours. In her spare time, she handpaints signs and creates wall decals. That’s all from growing up here!”
“We also have a nephew in Halifax who works in animation,” adds Pat. “He enjoys going to work every day and then continues drawing at home afterwards. That’s how I feel about signmaking. I’m up at 6 a.m. and I’m working many evenings until 11 p.m. And I don’t really see it as work, because I love what I do. I come out to my shop to play, not work!”
