Artist from Sudbury, Ont., takes on new challenge a year after brain surgery

More than a year after she had surgery following a brain aneurysm, Sudbury, Ont., artist Monique Legault says she's been keeping busy with her work.

"I'm not planning on slowing down anytime soon," she said.

"You only have one life, right? And it's what you make of it. So I'm determined to make it count."

Legault has painted many murals in the Sudbury area, but earlier this year, she took up a challenge that was outside her comfort zone.

She got the opportunity to design a large art installation for the town of Lindsay, Ont.

The piece is made of aluminum and depicts a large sycamore tree with some flowing ribbons that represent the wind, land and Scugog River that runs through the town.

The piece is backlit to recreate the look of a sunset. But Legault said the lights can be programmed to create different effects.

"So for Pride Week, they can have it rainbow-coloured… or for Saint Patrick's Day, it could be green," she said.

The piece is more than 13 metres across.

"It's, wow, the biggest thing I've ever done, which is kind of funny considering all the murals I've done," Legault said.

Legault said she collaborated with an engineering firm to help cut the large aluminum pieces she designed.

But even with the help, it proved to be a challenge to put it all together.

"Anything that could go wrong did. It's that Murphy's law thing."

Legault said there were tears when she completed the project.

"It was an incredible feeling to see it up finally."